Leonardo delivers fourth P-72B to the Guardia di Finanza.

To mark the occasion of the delivery of the fourth and last P-72B to the Guardia di Finanza, an unveiling ceremony was held in Turin, at the Leonardo Aircraft site in Caselle Torinese. The contract signed with GdF included a total order for four aircraft, training and logistical support, with deliveries to be completed by 2022.

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Operating under the name P-72B, the aircraft represents a new frontier in maritime patrol aircraft and comes equipped with Leonardo’s very latest security and surveillance systems (Picture source: Leonardo)

The aircraft will be operated by the Guardia di Finanza air service to perform the many services the law enforcement agency provides. The Guardia di Finanza is the only general-duty police force that exercises constant and effective surveillance of the country’s entire coastline and international waters, which it carries out also thanks to the advanced technological equipments on board its aircraft.

The new-generation functions installed on the ATR 72MP will help the Guardia di Finanza carry out specific surveillance tasks. Using onboard sensors, the P-72B will perform sea and air patrols and search and rescue missions to locate and identify sensitive targets, monitor their behaviour, obtain evidence, and guide the intervention of naval units and ground patrol teams.

The P72B of the Guardia di Finanza takes off from Caselle Torinese airport (Picture source: Luca Nicolotti)

The ATR 72MP is equipped with the ATOS (Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance) mission system, developed entirely by Leonardo, which manages the aircraft’s wide range of sensors and provides operators with a complete and constantly up-to-date picture of the situation. The commercial origins of the aircraft also ensure crew members enjoy a level of ergonomics and comfort, which help improve efficiency and efficacy during search and identification operations, maritime patrol, counter drug trafficking, piracy, smuggling, and protecting the country’s territorial waters.

The ATOS mission system consolle on board P72B (Picture source: Leonardo)

General B. Mariano La Malfa, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Guardia di Finanza, stressed how the aircraft will provide Italy’s custom police with a complete asset of cutting-edge technologies. A reason for pride, but also for reflection on the challenges that lie ahead as we continue on the path of the platform’s technological advancement, while guaranteeing the utmost operational efficacy. “The added value of Leonardo’s experience and technologies and GdF’ s expertise is the key to the consolidation of a collaborative partnership that will allow us to explore the potential future expansion of the fleet”. The General concluded by thanking the Leonardo and GdF team “Who tirelessly worked in sync to deliver this very important project”.

Marco Zoff, Managing Director of the Leonardo Aircraft Division, underlined how proud the Leonardo community is to be providing the GdF and the country with an aircraft that represents the best of the company’s technological capabilities. “A success story with long-established roots, based on strong teamwork, constant discussion and cooperation. The accomplishment we are celebrating today is just one of many steps in the aircraft’s long and ongoing evolution process, and we are ready to consider any potential new requirements to respond to our client’s needs,” concluded Zoff.