Italy begins receiving new maritime patrol Aircraft
The Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana: AMI) has received into service the first two of four Alenia ATR 72 maritime patrol aircraft, Leonardo-Finmeccanica announced on 13 December
The twin-turboprop aircraft, designated P-72A in AMI service, are to be used for maritime patrol, long-range search and rescue, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface vessel warfare (ASuW), counter-narcotics and people smuggling, counter-piracy, protection of Italy's territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, and for disaster relief.
Procured in 2014 to replace the ageing Bréguet Atlantic 1s that are reaching the end of their operational lives, deliveries of the four new aircraft are scheduled to be complete by the end of 2017.
IHS Jane's understands the four P-72As are to be an interim replacement for the Atlantic 1s, with a full replacement likely to be procured sometime after 2020.
The P-72A is built around Leonardo-Finmeccanica's Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance (ATOS) mission system, which features touch-screen multifunctional display (MFD) units. It also integrates a Star Safire HD electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) turret, Leonardo Airborne and Space Systems' Seaspray 7300 active electronically scanned array (AESA) surveillance radar, and a self-protection suite based on Elettronica's ELT800V2 electronic support measures (ESM) system. A self-protection system derived from that already fitted to the Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft allows the P-72A to operate in denied environments.
According to Leonardo-Finmeccanica, the aircraft will be able to fly missions lasting six-and-a-half hours out to 200 n miles.
