Leonardo receives ATR 72MP order
Leonardo will supply Italy’s Guardia di Finanza with three ATR 72MPs under a €150 million contract announced on 9 October.
The contract brings the number of ATR 72MPs on order for the Guardia di Finanza to four. The first aircraft was ordered under a European tender in July 2018 and is due to be delivered by the end of 2019. The three new aircraft will be delivered by 2022.
Leonardo will supply the aircraft integrated with new generation capabilities to support the force’s dedicated surveillance activities; namely, air-sea patrol and research missions. On-board sensors will enable the identification of sensitive objects, monitoring of their behavior, acquisition of evidence, and oversee the intervention of naval units and land patrols.
The company will also supply related technical-logistic support services.
Alessandro Profumo, CEO of Leonardo, said: ‘We are proud that Guardia di Finanza has chosen to rely once again on our ATR 72MP, an aircraft which fully represents Leonardo's technological capabilities in terms of design and integration of platforms and systems at the highest levels.’
The ATR 72MP is designed for missions including maritime patrol, search and identification, search and rescue, and counter drug trafficking, piracy and smuggling.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
Netherlands to acquire Finnish littoral assault craft in LCVP replacement programme
The Dutch navy had reportedly been considering BAE Systems’ Littoral Strike Craft to replace its ageing landing craft fleet.
-
Swedish navy moves to final phase of Blekinge-class sub production with new Saab order
Saab Kockums was initially awarded the contract to build two A26 submarines for the Royal Swedish Navy in 2015, but the programme has faced delays and escalating costs.
-
Germany goes for more US equipment for F127 frigates with SPY-6 radar choice
If the foreign military sale request is approved, Germany would be the first country outside the US to acquire the technology, which is currently used extensively by the US Navy.
-
Beyond GPS: How LEO satellites are changing the game in naval navigation
Satellite navigation is increasingly critical for global maritime defence, and Low Earth Orbit satellites are rapidly overtaking the traditional and more widely used Medium Earth Orbit option as they are less susceptible to jamming or spoofing.
-
US continues to review AUKUS submarine deal as HII ticks off new Virginia-class sea trials
The initial sea trials for Virginia-class SSN 798 conducted by Newport News Shipbuilding division and the US Navy marked an “important step”, but the ongoing AUKUS review casts a shadow over what the progress means for the partner nations.