First ATR72-500 Aircraft Delivered to Turkey

Turkish Aerospace Industries, The first ATR72-500 aircraft under the Meltem III Program arrived at the facilities of the Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI) on February 14, 2008. 
 
The contract of the Meltem III program, covering the procurement of a total of 10 ATR72-500 aircraft and their modification into Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) configuration for the Turkish Navy was signed between Alenia Aeronautica S.p.A and TAI on December 21, 2005. 
 
Within the framework of the program, in which TAI is the main subcontractor and Alenia is the prime contractor, the modification activities will be carried out at TAI’s facilities. TAI’s work share includes design of the system installation and structural integration, Kit-A and tools manufacturing, procurement of material and support equipment, structural modification, assembly, Ground Flight Support and Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) activities. 
 
TAI, being aware of importance of modernization, modification and systems integration capabilities, has accelerated its activities to meet such requirements with custom made solutions for fixed and rotary wing air platforms in the inventory of Turkish Armed Forces and other friendly countries.  
 
TAI is the prime contractor of the avionic modernization programs of the C-130 transport aircraft and T-38 training aircraft that are in the inventory of the TuAF. Major modernization programs include Black Hawk modifications for Special Forces, electronic warfare retrofit and structural modifications on TuAF F-16s, Falcon Star and Mid Life Upgrade modifications of F-16’s of the Royal Jordanian Air Force, modification and modernization of Cougar AS-532, Glass Cockpit Retrofit of S-70 helicopters, modification of CN-235 platforms for MPA/MSA missions for the Turkish Navy and Coast Guard as well as structural modification and systems integration activities required for the conversion of B737-700 aircraft into AEW&C aircraft.