What armament can the ATR-72 carry? Also, of the following, which are considered to be the best MPA platform:
- ATT-72 MPA
- CN-295 MPA
- P-3C Orion
- new SAAB 2000 MPA
Armament of ATR 72ASW:
• electro-optical sensors;
• Search radar;
• ESM sensor (Electronic Support Measures);
• MAD sensor (Magnetic Anomaly Detector);
• Integrated self-protection system, (Chaff & Flare Dispenser, Radar Warning, Missile Warning, Laser Warning);
• Sonobuoy launcher;
• Anti-submarine torpedoes carried on 2 pylons at the fuselage sides.
Armament of P3C:
Guns: None
Hardpoints: 10 wing stations in total (3x on each wing and 2x on each wing root) and eight internal bomb bay stations with a capacity of 20,000 lb (9,100 kg)
[1] and provisions to carry combinations of:
Rockets: None
Missiles: ***
Air-to-surface missile:
AGM-65 Maverick,
AGM-84 Harpoon,
AGM-84 Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM-ER)
Bombs: ***
Depth charges,
Mk 101 Lulu nuclear depth bomb,
MK20 Rockeye,
MK80 Series (MK82, MK83, MK84) general purpose bombs,
B57 nuclear bomb(US service only, retired 1993)
Other: ***
Mk 44 (mostly retired from service),
Mk 46,
[1] Mk 50,
Mk 54 or
MU90 Impact torpedoes
Mk 25, Mk 39, Mk 55, Mk 56,
Mk 60 CAPTOR or Mk 65 Quickstrike
naval mines[78]
Stonefish naval mine (in Australian service)
Active and passive
Sonobuoys
Amament of Saab 2000 mpa:
The Saab 2000 MPA comes with an advanced sensor and C4I package comprising of 360° rotating maritime surveillance radar, multimode electro-optical sensor, Automatic Identification System (AIS), Identify Friend of Foe (IFF), Electronic Support Measures (ESM), Self Protection System (SPS), SATCOM and data link.
Armament of C295 MPA:
The C295 has up to six underwing hard points for weapon systems. The hard points can hold torpedoes, anti-surface missiles, mines and depth charges.
The aircraft is equipped with self-protection equipment including cockpit armour, a radar warning receiver (RWR), a missile approach warning system (MAWS) and a laser warning receiver (LWR).
The aircraft can fire chaff / flares to deceive the incoming radar-directed anti-aircraft artillery (AAA), radar command-guided missiles, radar homing guided missiles and infrared guided missiles.
So among all of them P-3C is better maritme patrol aircraft due to its flying hours,service cieling,long range and armament.
