Alenia Aermacchi Delivers First ATR72-600 TMUA to Turkish Navy
Alenia
Aermacchi delivered the first ATR72-600 TMUA (Turkish Maritime Utility
Aircraft) to the Turkish Navy, the first of a total order of eight ATR72s,
which consist of two TMUAs and six ATR72-600 TMPA (Turkish Maritime
Patrol Aircraft) maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
Turkish Navy ATR 72-600 TMPA on Finmeccanica stand during IDEF 2013
Compared
to the ATR72-600 basic platform, the two ATR72 TMUA, modified at Alenia
Aermacchi’s plants in Napoli-Capodichino and Torino-Caselle, feature
new radios; an IFF (Identification Friend or Foe system) and a cabin
area equipped with tactical tables and communications equipment for
the crew. Both aircraft, to be easily reconfigured into cargo, will
be used for utility roles, personnel and cargo logistic transport.
The first Turkish Navy flying instructors just completed the training
on the new aircraft at Alenia Aermacchi’s Training Centre in Caselle.
The second aircraft will be delivered within the first half of August.
The following six multi-role aircraft ATR72-600 TMPAs are being converted
by TAI, Turkish Aerospace Industry in Ankara and, further to some additional
equipment specific to their multi-role asset, they will integrate the
Thales AMASCOS mission system, datalink Link 16, AIS (Automatic Identification
System) and a weapons system.
The first TMPA will be delivered to the Turkish Navy on February 2017
and deliveries will be completed by 2018.
Pictures of YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missile, fitted on a Chinese
Navy (PLAN) Xian H-6G bomber have recently emerged on the Chinese internet
meaning this new generation missile may have entered operational service.
