Turkish government puts out information request for coast guard aircraft

The Turkish government’s procurement agency has released a request for information (RFI) for options on purchasing a coast guard aircraft. The Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) said that planned missions of the aircraft will be controlling naval sovereign zones in the Mediterranean.

Tasks will include performing reconnaissance flights to help control illegal immigration on the Aegean Sea, search and rescue operations, curtailing illegal activity along the Turkish coastline and performing coastal reconnaissance. The process has been opened to local and foreign contenders.

Bidders that have already shown an interest include Austrian aircraft manufacturer Airborne Technologies, Italian company Finmeccanica (soon to be rebadged as Leonardo) and Turkish firm Savronik. Those interested in bidding have been asked to return the RFI document by 8 April 2016.

Other bidders include fellow Turkish companies Aselsan, Meteksan Savunma and Duygu Havacilik.