Fokker
Fokker F27 Maritime Enforcer
The Fokker F27 Maritime Enforcer is a specialised maritime‑patrol version of the successful Dutch‑built F27 Friendship turboprop transport. Developed in the early 1970s by Fokker, the variant combined the robust high‑wing airframe and reliable Rolls‑Royce Dart engines of the original with a suite of naval sensors, a dorsal radar dome, magnetic anomaly detector, and under‑wing hardpoints for torpedoes or depth charges. First flown in 1972 and entered service with the Royal Netherlands Navy and several Commonwealth air forces, the aircraft could operate from short, unprepared sea‑strip runways and remain on station for up to twelve hours. Its stretched fuselage provided ample space for crew, mission consoles, and additional fuel tanks, while the corrosion‑treated aluminum skin ensured durability in salty environments. The Maritime Enforcer proved crucial during the Cold War, offering NATO an affordable, low‑maintenance platform for anti‑submarine warfare, surface‑search, and fisheries patrol. Its operational success demonstrated the adaptability of civilian transport designs for military roles and paved the way for later dedicated patrol turboprops such as the ATR‑72 MP, securing its place in aviation history as a versatile bridge between transport and maritime warfare.
Classification
Design & Classification
- Primary Use
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Fokker
- Developer
- Fokker
- Operator
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Angola
- Wikidata ID
- Q17489396