The Meltem III is an indigenous Turkish special-mission aircraft project spear-headed by local industry powerhouse Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). The program involves a modified French ATR72-600 high-winged, turboprop-powered regional airliner converted to the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) role. The Turkish Navy has partnered with long-time Italian aero-industry player Alenia Aermacchi SpA to bring the design about, this contract signed in July of 2012. The initial aircraft of the fleet was passed on to TAI engineers in April of 2013 who will tackle the modifications portion of the project.
The service seeks fleet of six airframes for the role.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
✓Special-Mission: Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy underwater elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and weapons.
✓Special-Mission: Anti-Ship
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy surface elements through visual acquisition, radar support, and onboard weaponry.
✓Special-Mission: Search & Rescue (SAR)
Ability to locate and extract personnel from areas of potential harm or peril (i.e. downed airmen in the sea).
✓Maritime / Navy
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
RADAR-CAPABLE
Houses, or can house (through specialized variants), radar equipment for searching, tracking, and engagement of enemy elements.
COUNTERMEASURES
Survivability enhanced by way of onboard electronic or physical countermeasures enacted by the aircraft or pilot/crew.
MULTI-ENGINE
Incorporates two or more engines, enhancing survivability and / or performance.
HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE
Can reach and operate at higher altitudes than average aircraft of its time.
EXTENDED RANGE PERFORMANCE
Capability to travel considerable distances through onboard fuel stores.
MARITIME OPERATION
Ability to operate over ocean in addition to surviving the special rigors of the maritime environment.
CREWSPACE PRESSURIZATION
Supports pressurization required at higher operating altitudes for crew survival.
CREW-MANAGED
Beyond a pilot, the aircraft takes advantage of additional crew specialized in specific functions aboard the aircraft.
ENCLOSED CREWSPACE(S)
Features partially- or wholly-enclosed crew workspaces.
RETRACTABLE UNDERCARRIAGE
Features retracting / retractable undercarriage to preserve aerodynamic efficiency.
TORPEDO ARMAMENT
Ability to launch / release torpedoes against ocean-going threats / targets.
CAMERA EQUIPMENT
Payload supports photographic equipment providing still and / or real-time image / video results.
Length
89.1 ft (27.15 m)
Width/Span
88.7 ft (27.05 m)
Height
25.1 ft (7.65 m)
Empty Wgt
28,660 lb (13,000 kg)
MTOW
51,809 lb (23,500 kg)
Wgt Diff
+23,149 lb (+10,500 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the TAI Meltem III production variant)
monoplane / high-mounted / straight
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
High-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper-most position allowable along the dorsal line of the fuselage.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the TAI Meltem III production variant)
Installed:
2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) turboprop engines developing 2,500 horsepower each driving six-bladed propeller units.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the TAI Meltem III production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
Assumed ordnance load for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) sorties included support for mine dispensing, anti-ship missiles, precision-guided drop bombs, air-launched torpedoes, and land-attack cruise missiles.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 2
Mounting Points
X
-
-
-
-
5
-
-
-
4
-
-
-
-
HARDPOINT(S) KEY:
X
15
13
11
9
7
5
3
1
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
COLOR KEY:
Fuselage Centerline
Fuselage Port/Wingroot
Fuselage Starboard/Wingroot
Wing/Underwing
Wingtip Mount(s)
Internal Bay(s)
Not Used
Note: Diagram above does not take into account inline hardpoints (mounting positions seated one-behind-the-other).
Meltem III - Base Project Name; six aircraft planned.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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Turkey (planned)
