Thales finalises Turkey MELTEM II programme

Thales has delivered the fifth maritime patrol aircraft to the Turkish Navy as part of the MELTEM II programme. The sixth and final aircraft will be delivered before the summer, marking the end of Thales’ work on the programme.

Thales is the prime contractor for the MELTEM II programme, which covers the delivery of six maritime patrol aircraft, three maritime surveillance aircraft and the provision of ten additional AMASCOS maritime patrol systems. The maritime surveillance aircraft were delivered to the Turkish coast guard in 2013.

A ceremony for the latest delivered aircraft was held on 28 April at the Topel (Turkey) naval airbase. Chief of Staff for the Turkish Navy, Mr Bülent Bostanoglu, as well as the Secretary of State for the Turkish Defence Industry (SSM), Mr Ismail Demir, were in attendance.

Pierre Eric Pommellet, senior vice president, Defence Mission Systems, Thales, said: ‘The strong relationships that have been established throughout the programme with Turkish industry partners, TAI, Havelsan, Aselsan and Milsoft have enabled the success of this aircraft transformation programme and pave the way for future partnerships between Thales and the Turkish industry.

‘We’re focusing on developing this close cooperation and are very proud these maritime patrol aircraft reach a technological and operational standard of excellence. The Turkish Navy can now rely on Thales’s state-of-the-art AMASCOS solution to conduct their maritime patrol missions.’

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