Thales announced the delivery of the final standard for the maritime patrol aircraft to Turkey as part of the MELTEM II programme, for which Thales is the prime contractor. Till date, five of the six aircraft have been delivered to this standard, with the sixth set for delivery before the summer. This follows the three maritime surveillance aircraft which were sent to the Turkish coast guards last year.

A ceremony was held at the Topel (Turkey) naval air base to celebrate the official delivery of aircraft to the Turkish Navy in the presence of the Chief of Staff for the Turkish Navy, Bülent Bostanoglu, as well as the Secretary of State for the Turkish Defence Industry (SSM), Ismail Demir.

Pierre Eric Pommellet, Senior Vice President of Thales in charge of Defence Mission Systems, officially handed over the delivery certificate for the aircraft to the Chief of Staff of the Turkish Navy.

He highlighted the “strong relationships that have been established throughout the programme with Turkish industry partners, TAI, Havelsan, Aselsan and Milsoft. These 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.”

“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-ofthe-art AMASCOS solution to conduct their maritime patrol missions,” said Pierre Eric Pommellet, Senior Vice President of Thales in charge of Defence Mission Systems.