Bubblegum Crisis
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2012
- Messages
- 2,612
- Reaction score
- 5
- Country
- Location
Mubadala partnership with Piaggio takes flight
David Black
Jul 13, 2012
Piaggio, a Mubadala Development partner, Tawazun and Sweden's Saab are to develop a new multi-role patrol aircraft (MPA) based on the Italian plane maker's executive turboprop, the Avanti II.
The launch customer for the project is Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investments (Adasi), a subsidiary of Tawazun, which will provide the financing for two prototypes with the first flight scheduled for 2014.
The special mission aircraft will be able to fly at an altitude of up to 41,000 feet, with an endurance of 10-plus hours, a maximum range of 3,300 nautical miles (6,111 kilometres) and a cruising speed of 350 knots (648kph). It will be powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada engines.
"The newly designed Piaggio Aero MPA aircraft will allow us to enter the surveillance sector and diversify our business profile with the development of this new state-of-the-art multi-role platform," said Alberto Galassi, the Piaggio Aero chief executive. "The innovative MPA aircraft will be a game changer in its sector. It's a very significant moment to see Piaggio Aero moving into its future with the fundamental support of Mubadala Aerospace and our world class shareholders."
Piaggio, part-owned by Mubadala, a strategic investment company owned by the Abu Dhabi Government, will build the aircraft, an updated version of its Aero P-180 Avanti II. Saab has been selected as the systems supplier, to develop and integrate a suite of airborne sensors and surveillance systems.
"The MPA's first application, developed with Saab, will be dedicated to maritime patrol. A high-performance search radar and electro-optic/infrared sensors suite will be integrated into a mission management system to allow for a wide variety of missions," said a spokesman for Adasi.
The modifications are understood to include the installation of fuel tanks at the rear of the cabin in the space occupied by the lavatory and wardrobe on the VIP version of the six-seat twin-pusher turboprop, according to Flight magazine. This will help to extend the aircraft's current range of just 1,470 nautical miles.
The basic design of the Avanti has struggled in the mid-size business aircraft market, with deliveries down to only 11 aircraft in 2010, and 14 last year. Piaggio believes branching out into the military market with this MPA variant could give the basic design a new lease of life.
The National.ae
Piaggio, Saab Take On Ambitious Maritime Patrol Program
By Bill Sweetman
Source: AWIN First
July 11, 2012
Piaggio is teaming with Saab to develop a new maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) based on a highly modified version of its P.180 Avanti II business aircraft.
At the Farnborough air show on July 10, Piaggio Aero announced that it signed a contract with Abu Dhabi Autonomous System Investments, a subsidiary of Tawazun, covering the development of the aircraft and the construction of two prototypes. The first is to fly in 2014.
In a separate announcement, Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) and ITT Exelis said they would team up to develop and deploy a wide-area airborne surveillance (WAAS) system based on the Gorgon Stare Increment II that the two companies are producing for the U.S. Air Force. Vigilant Stare, as the new version is called, will be carried on a Twin Otter rather than a Reaper UAV, and SNC and Exelis are planning to operate the aircraft themselves and provide surveillance to customers on a fee-for-service plan.
Like other WAAS systems, Vigilant Stare will provide users with continuous, full-area surveillance of an area the size of a small town, with enough resolution to track walking individuals.
Together, the two announcements show that end-user interest in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms based on commercial aircraft is still rising, as customers start to appreciate their advantages over unmanned air vehicles, including lower accident rates and trouble-free integration into national and international airspace.
The Piaggio MPA project is important for other reasons, not the least of which is that it is the first major modification of an existing light commercial design for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The MPA platform will have a bigger wing than a standard P.180, a greater takeoff weight and more fuel capacity. It will have a maximum range of 3,300 nm and an endurance of 10 hr. (6 hr. at low altitude) while retaining the 350-kt. cruise speed and 41,000-ft. service ceiling of the basic aircraft.
Low internal noise and the P.180s cabin, one of the largest and tallest in its class, are other claimed advantages. The new MPA is, according to Piaggio, being designed so that it also can be equipped for ground surveillance, tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or communications/signals intelligence.
It is also noteworthy that the project is being financed from Abu Dhabi, while Piaggio is jointly owned by the UAEs Mubadala Aerospace and Indias Tata group. Saab will presumably use the same avionics architecture used on its new 340MPA program.
Aviation Week
Saab ERIEYE - Airborne Surveillance System
SAAB Integrates Surveillance Systems for Piaggio Aero MPA
January 6, 2013 at 20:17
Posted by Tamir Eshel
The Saab group has signed a framework agreement with Italian Piaggio Aero Industries for the integration of surveillance systems in the Multirole Patrol Aircraft a new surveillance aircraft based on Piaggio Aeros business plane. The order is valued at Euro 15.5 million. Within the framework agreement Saab receives an initial order for the delivery and integration of the surveillance system MPA Mission System.
The order comprises two MPA aircraft and requires Saab to integrate a package of advanced surveillance equipment comprising of sensors, radar, infra-red cameras and a mission system. Deliveries are scheduled for the period 2012 to 2015.
The aircraft will be able to perform surveillance of broad areas for more than 6 hours at low altitude in coastal or offshore waters. The aircraft offers large, stand up cabin allowing spacious installation of mission equipment while providing maximum crew comfort for enhanced missions. It will be able to fly up to 41,000 feet, with endurance of 10 plus flight hours, cruise at a speed of 350 knots and fly at a maximum range of 3,300 nautical miles.
The MPA is an evolution of the Piaggio Aero P.180 Avanti II platform, modified to meet land, coastal, maritime and offshore security requirements. The MPAs main features are an enhanced airframe, increased maximum take-off weight, additional fuel tanks and a new aerodynamic configuration with a reinforced wing providing an increased surface and higher aspect ratio.
An evolution of the P.180 Avantis patented Three-Lifting-Surface Configuration (3LSC), the modified aerodynamic configuration designed for special mission applications underwent extensive Reynolds low speed/high speed wind tunnel testing at ONERA, to validate design and performance. During testing it demonstrated an 30% reduction of required power, in comparison to its nearest competitor Piaggio communique said.
Piaggio Aero launched the Piaggio Aero MPA at the Farnborough 2012 airshow, with the signature of a contract with Abu Dhabi Autonomous System Investments (ADASI). The contract covered the complete development of the MPA aircraft, including the roll out of two prototypes with first flight scheduled for 2014. The newly designed Piaggio Aero MPA aircraft will allow us to enter the surveillance sector and diversify our business profile with the development of this new state of the art multirole platform said Alberto Galassi, Piaggio Aero CEO.
Defense Update
Piaggio P180 Avanti
Flashback ^^
New Piaggio Aero shareholder underpins future growth
April 19, 2006
Genoa, Italy, 19th April 2006 - Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A., one of the worlds leading aerospace companies, today announced that Mubadala Development, a principal investment company wholly owned by the Government of the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, had acquired 35% of the equity of Piaggio Aero.
The transaction is founded on a shared belief by the two parties that the business aviation segment will continue to expand significantly over the foreseeable future. The share capital resulting from the deal positions Piaggio Aero to harness that opportunity. Piaggio Aero Industries is the only company in the world to be active in all aspects of aircraft manufacture and maintenance aircraft, aero-engines and aerostructures. Since 1998, the company has grown its order book from one plane to its current order book of over 100 planes.
We have had extraordinary success in both the European and North American business aviation markets. Said Mr Piero Ferrari Chairman of Piaggio Aero S.p.A.. This deal places us in a position to further grow our position in those markets whilst beginning to explore new markets, including the Middle East, Far East and South America, each of which offers high potential for sales. He added.
Commenting on the deal, HE Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO of Mubadala Development said: For us this investment makes commercial sense on two levels. As a straight investment opportunity Piaggio Aero has a remarkable performance track record. Importantly, the transaction also offers the opportunity to explore potential synergies that both Piaggio and Mubadala can leverage.
We are very excited about our new partner and the confidence Mubadala has placed in Piaggio Aero said Josè di Mase CEO of Piaggio Aero. This partnership provides a platform for growth and the future expansion of the Piaggio Aero brand.
Mubadala Developments investment involves the purchase of existing shares and new shares. Piaggio Aeros primary shareholders are the Ferrari and di Mase families. As a result of the transaction they will now hold 55% of the share capital of the Company. Together with Mubadalas 35% stake, this accounts for 90% of the share capital of the Company. The other ten percent is held by a mixture of banks and other shareholders.
As part of the transaction, Mubadala will receive three Board seats of Piaggio, out of a total of seven, including the post of Vice-Chairman. Mubadala will also receive one of the three seats on the Companys Executive Management Committee. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Piaggio Aero has shipped almost 110 planes to customers around the world including private owners, corporations, governments, military institutions and fractional ownership companies. In 2006, the Company plans to deliver 24 of its signature P180 Avanti II planes. As Piaggio Aeros flagship the P 180 Avanti II is the fastest and most efficient turboprop aircraft in the World, competing successfully in the light jet segment.
Mubadala
Shares
Mubadala Development Company (blocking minority to board of directors) : 35 % stake
Last edited by a moderator:
