This morning we tracked two ATR 72MPA (anti-submarine warfare and maritime patrol aircraft) of the Turkish Navy operating in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The first aircraft (registration TCB-756 – call sign TURNA01) orbited for a long time east of Rhodes, while the second (registration TCB-752 – call sign TURNA31) conducted a surveillance mission west of Cyprus.
Both aircraft, while operating within the Greek and Cypriot FIRs, always flew over international waters.
Additional information on ATR 72MPA:
- The ATR 72MPA is a derivative of the ATR 72-600 regional airliner. It is equipped with a Thales AMASCOS mission system that includes a radar, electro-optical/infrared sensor, and magnetic anomaly detector.
- The ATR 72MPA has a range of 1,500 nautical miles and can carry a payload of up to 4,500 pounds.
- The Turkish Navy has a total of six ATR 72MPA aircraft.