New Turkish Navy P-72 deliveries
On 16 December 2021, the Türk Deniz Hava Komutanlığı (Turkish Navy Aviation Command) received its third and fourth P-72 (ATR72-600TMPA).
The MPAs were officially accepted during a ceremony at Cengiz Topel Naval Air Base, Izmit-Kocaeli. Registered TCB-753 and TCB-754, they were following previous deliveries of TCB-752 in March 2021 and TCB-751 in October 2020. The last two aircraft, likely to be registered TCB-755 and TCB-756, are expected to be delivered in the course of 2022.
The contract of the Meltem III programme, covering the procurement of a total of six ATR72-600 aircraft and their modification into Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) configuration for the Turkish Navy was signed between Alenia Aermacchi S.p.A and Turkish Aerospace in July 2012. The first ATR72-600 aircraft arrived at Turkish Aerospace's facilities on 19 April 2013.
Photo via Turkish Navy Aviation Command