Turkish Navy’s Tuzla-class patrol ships have been conducting surveillance in the Aegean Sea, where number of irregular migration incidents repeatedly increases. Navy helicopters along with navy patrol aircraft, deployed to Çanakkale, İzmir and Dalaman, have been also assisting reconnaissance and surveillance operations.    

High-tech surface radars and optical cameras are used while highly refined surveillance systems are depicting a non-stop Recognized Maritime Picture (RMP) in the region.   

Over a few months, Turkish Naval Forces’ support to prevent irregular migration has included totally 11640 hours of surveillance with 16 Tuzla-class patrol ships and 299 sorties by navy patrol aircraft and ground-based navy helicopters. Since then, totally 4955 migrants have been apprehended, 3212 of whom were delivered to Coast Guard ships and 333 of those were delivered to law enforcement forces. Turkish Naval Forces will resolutely continue to act to prevent irregular migration in cooperation with Turkish Coast Guard.   

Vira Maritime