Turkey’s defence industries undersecretariat and Alenia Aeronautica have signed a $219 million contract for 10 ATR 72/500 anti-submarine warfare and maritime patrol aircraft. Under Ankara’s Meltem 3 requirement, the aircraft will receive a modified Thales Airborne Systems Amascos mission and sensor suite and a new glass cockpit.
Alenia will conduct platform modifications and perform systems integration on the first aircraft with the assistance of Turkish companies including Tusas Aerospace Industries. The mission system will be integrated by mid-2008, with the first flight planned later the same year ahead of a certification campaign to take place in Italy. The navy’s first ATR 72 will arrive in Turkey in late 2009, with service acceptance to start in early 2010 and deliveries to conclude by mid-2012.
The Meltem 3 deal includes industrial offsets worth over 100% of the contract value.
Source: Flight International