LIMA 2017: Leonardo debuts ATR 72MP aircraft outside Italy in showcase of platform's maritime survei

[Zarvan]

An Italian Air Force ATR 72 MP, being showcased at LIMA 2017 in Langkawi. Source: IHS Markit/Ridzwan Rahmat
Key Points

• An ATR 72MP is being showcased outside Italy for the first time since the platform's induction into the Italian Air Force
• The aircraft is being positioned as having a low cost of operation and being easy to maintain

Leonardo is showcasing an Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare: AM) ATR 72MP fixed-wing maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition in Malaysia to demonstrate the platform's maritime surveillance capabilities, the company has told Jane's.

This is the first time that the platform, which was inducted into service with the AM in December 2016, is being shown outside Italy, the company said. It is one of two airframes that was delivered to the service in 2016, with another two anticipated for delivery in 2017.

"Leonardo envisions significant export opportunities for the aircraft in the region due the aircraft's low cost of operation, ease of maintenance, and exceptional versatility in a number of maritime roles", Leonardo said in a statement on the airframe's deployment to Langkawi.

The platform being showcased is based on Leonardo's ATR 72-600 turboprop twin-engine aircraft. It is equipped with a package of sensors that includes the Selex ES Seaspray 7300E active electronically scanned array radar and the EOST-23 electro-optical turret.

The ATR 72MP's suite of self-protection measures includes chaff and flare dispensers, and missile warning systems.

According to Jane's World Air Force's, the ATR 72 also has the potential to be developed as fully capable anti-submarine warfare (ASW) platform and can equipped with sonobuoys, a magnetic anomaly detector, and an acoustic processor.

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http://www.janes.com/article/68866/...platform-s-maritime-surveillance-capabilities

 

[Arsalan]

With PIA already operating ATR-72s, these are the aircraft PN must look into for future MP and may be even ASW roles!!