The Turkish Navy received the third Leonardo ATR-72 (P-72) anti-submarine warfare (ASW) patrol aircraft from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) as part of the Meltem-3 (Breeze) 3 Project. This third aircraft in ASW/MPA configuration (known as ATR 72-600 TMPA).
This long-term project is based on the modification and upgrade of ten ATR72 platforms between the years 2009 and 2011 to comply with the requirements of the Turkish Navy for a Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) with Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Maritime Surveillance/Reconnaissance capability.
The airship is known as a passenger aircraft; Leonardo ATR 72-600 was redesigned by Turkish Aerospace engineers and technicians with a brand-new concept to integrate relevant radar systems. The aircraft is planned to be used for air patrol operations by the Turkish Naval Forces.
The first of six aircraft was sent to the Leonardo company to complete certification tests following the integration of relevant Turkish Aerospace facilities.
Main contractor is Alenia Aeronautica. The company is responsible for the design and development of the transformation of the basic platform and the mission system’s installation and integration with the onboard systems of the basic aircraft. Thales will act as lead systems integrator for the ATR 72-600’s new avionics suite, which offers improved performance in terms of reduced weight and electrical power consumption and higher reliability and better long-term serviceability.
The ATR 72-600TMPA plane is integrated with Thales AMASCOS mission system. It will include new functionalities such as AIS, Link 16 and the last generation weapon systems, like the Mk 54 Light Weight Torpedo.
The AMASCOS (Airborne Maritime Situation & Control System) mission system relies on multiple sensors to detect, identify and track threats, maintain real-time tactical situation awareness, manage NATO and national tactical data links and deploy onboard weapon systems.
The typical missions of this version include vessel search and identification, search and rescue (SAR), drug, smuggling and piracy control, environmental control (pollution by oil and chemical substances), maritime patrol roles, economic exclusive zone patrol (fishing, off-shore platforms), and Anti-Submarine Warfare.
TheATR 72is a twin-engineturboprop,short-haulregional airlinerdeveloped and produced in France and Italy byaircraft manufacturerATR(Aerei da Trasporto Regionale or Avions de transport régional), ajoint ventureformed by French aerospace companyAérospatiale(nowAirbus) and Italian aviation conglomerateAeritalia(nowLeonardo S.p.A.). The number “72” in its name is derived from the aircraft’s standard seating configuration in a passenger-carrying configuration, which could seat 72–78 passengers in a single-class arrangement.
