Leonardo-Finmeccanica has delivered the first two ATR 72MP maritime patrol aircraft to the Italian Air Force.
Leonardo-Finmeccanica has delivered the first two ATR 72MP maritime patrol aircraft to the Italian Air Force.
Designated P-72A by the Italian Air Force, the aircraft will replace the Air Force’s obsolete Dassault Breguet Atlantic in maritime surveillance role.
Delivery of the all four aircraft contracted in 2014 will be completed by 2017.
Based on the commercial ATR 72-600 turboprop airliner platform, the P-72A's mission include maritime patrol for the search and identification of surface vessels, SAR (search and rescue) missions, the prevention of narcotics trafficking, piracy, smuggling, territorial water security and monitoring and intervention in the event of environmental catastrophes.
The ATR 72MPs is equipped with Leonardo’s Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance (ATOS) provided with the latest communication systems, able to transmit or receive information in real time to/from command and control centres either on the ground, in the air or at-sea including Link 16, Link11, satellite communications, VORTEX and VMF.
Major surveillance sensors include the Star Safire HD electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) turret and the Seaspray 7300 active electronically scanned array (AESA) surveillance radar.
The aircraft is equipped with a self-protection system, fully integrated with the ATR 7MP’s mission system and avionics to operate in threat environments.The aircraft will be able to fly missions lasting six and a half hours at ranges up to 200 nautical miles from its starting location.
