Thales Announces First Flight of CN235 ASW Aircraft for Meltem Programme

ANKARA --- Thales announced today that the Turkish Navys future CN235 maritime patrol aircraft made its first flight this week.>> Modified by Thales and industrial partners TAI, Havelsan, Aselsan and Milsoft, the aircraft features the AMASCOS system (Airborne MAritime Situation and COntrol System) to provide Turkish naval forces with advanced anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.>> This new milestone further consolidates Thaless European leadership in maritime surveillance and patrol systems.>> Meltem is the most ambitious maritime surveillance and patrol programme conducted in Europe over the last decade. For Meltem II, Thales is modifying three CN235s for Exclusive Economic Zone surveillance missions by the Turkish coastguard and six CN235s in anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) configuration. For Meltem III, Alenia is integrating Thaless AMASCOS system on ten ATR-72 ASW platforms.>> The ATR-72 ASW aircraft developed jointly by Alenia Aeronautica and Thales is being proposed to naval and air forces around the world, for example in Algeria, Greece, Italy, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.>> The mission system is closely integrated with the aircrafts avionics, making this the most comprehensive solution on the market today, and the most competitive in the anti-surface and ASW turboprop segment. It is backed by Thaless and Finmeccanicas global network and with Alenia we are expecting favourable decisions on many of the current procurement programmes, says Jean-Franois Henrio, Vice President, Mission Airborne Solutions.