The ATR 72 MP is a maritime surveillance aircraft developed by Alenia Aermacchi. Built based on the ATR 72-600 platform, the ATR 72 MP serves as a low-cost, consistent, sea-surface surveillance platform for the military forces across the world.

The aircraft helps to detect, locate and rescue people from broken ships and aircraft. It offers cost-effective surveillance and exclusive economic zone patrol and search-and-rescue (SAR).

The equipment installed on the aircraft, such as sensors, communications equipment and mission systems can be customised depending on the mission requirement.

ATR 72 MP aircraft orders and deliveries

The delivery ceremony of the first two, of the four, P-72Bs ordered by the Guardia di Finanza , whose deliveries will be completed by 2022, took place in Turin at the Caselle Torinese production site of Leonardo’s Aircraft Division . – leonardocompany.com

The Italian Air Force awarded a contract for delivery of four ATR 72 MP maritime patrol aircraft to replace its ageing Breguet Atlantic aircraft, in December 2008.

aviation-report.com

A $137.4m contract was awarded to Alenia Aeronautica in November 2011 for providing logistical support for four ATR 72 MP aircraft of the Italian Air Force.

Design features of ATR 72 MP patrol aircraft

leonardocompany.com

The ATR 72 MP is manufactured with composite materials, which make the aircraft highly resistant to damage and corrosion. The airframe is designed to install sensors and other function-specific modules such as bubble windows and an in-flight operable door.

Marina Militare

NickJ 1972

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NickJ 1972

Compared to its predecessor the ATR 42 MP, this aircraft has significant endurance, more interior space and the latest control systems.

leonardocompany.com

The ATR 72 MP has an operational empty weight of 14,586kg and maximum take-off weight of 23,000kg. The aircraft can carry a payload of 5,000kg.

ATR 72 MP aircraft cockpit and avionics

leonardocompany.com

The ATR 72 MP aircraft is equipped with a glass cockpit that integrates five LCD screens as a standard fitment, along with commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components for better interface and high resolution graphics.

leonardocompany.com

The SELEX Galileo airborne tactical observation and surveillance (ATOS) mission system is installed with four interchangeable strategic operator stations to simplify the operations. It includes three sensors including an electro-optical turret FLIR system Star Safire HD, AESA SELEX Galileo Sea Spray 7000E search radar and an ESM (Electronic Support Measures) sensor from Elettronica.

The 360° operated turret helps to identify targets around the clock using its wide elevation range.

FLIR system Star Safire HD

leonardocompany.com

flir.com

The multimode, X-band 360° search radar enables long-range target detection, tracking and identification of approximately 100 targets at a time using track while scan application (TWS).

AESA SELEX Galileo Sea Spray 7000E search radar

A380spotter Proudly European

The Seaspray 7000E Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) multi-mode surveillance radar provides an unrivalled surveillance capability as the primary sensor on airborne assets to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

leonardocompany.com

The Seaspray range of radars has been delivering high performance surveillance capabilities to armed forces and paramilitary users for over 40 years. Seaspray 7000E is a member of the successful Seaspray family of surveillance radars, which also comprises the Seaspray 5000E and Seaspray 7500E.

It combines a state-of-the-art AESA with a Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) processor to deliver a leading edge capability covering air-to-surface, air-to-air and air-to-ground environments. The company is proud that the UK Royal Navy selected the Seaspray 7000E as the launch Customer, and it is now fully integrated into the state-of-the-art AW159 Lynx Wildcat.

KEY FEATURES

AESA technology and flexible waveform generation capability enables Seaspray 7000E to deliver peak performance in all modes. Use of multiple low power, solid state Transmit/Receive Modules (TRM) makes the radar more reliable than conventional radar systems. This results in a significant cost benefit over the life of the system. Superior performance in detecting small targets, such as Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FIAC) in high sea states, through use of composite mechanical and electronic scanning.

KEY BENEFITS
▪ Excellent performance
▪ Low cost of ownership
▪ True multi-mode operation
▪ Superior reliability, enabling mission success
▪ Ease of installation
▪ Easy to use
▪ Mode interleaving
▪ Flexible system integration options.

Source leonardocompany.com

The ATR 72 MP aircraft includes automatic identification system (AIS) and a V/UHF 360° direction-finding device to locate the direction of range radio emitters between 30MHz and 470MHz frequencies.

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The side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) installed on the aircraft helps to detect water pollution from long range and trace underwater activities close to the sea surface. The Hyper Spectral Scanner (HSS) of the aircraft helps to find the type of polluting agent.

MU90 TORPEDO

Leonardo Aircraft

The MU90 is a NATO-standard-calibre (323,7mm) fire-and-forget LWT of 304 Kg and 2850 mm length, designed to counter any type of nuclear or conventional submarine, acoustically coated, fast-evasive, deploying active or passive anti-torpedo effectors. The torpedo can be deployed from surface vessels, fixed/rotary wing aircraft or missile. Pre-arrangements to cope with submarine-launched SLAAM threats have been incorporated in the weapon as well as Hard-Kill (anti-torpedo torpedo), continental shelf mine and submarine launching capability. Designed and built with outstanding technologies, the weapon features any-task any-environment capability.

naval-technology.com

MU90 TORPEDO MAIN DYNAMIC FEATURES

Minimum speed: 29Kts
Maximum speed: >50Kts
Speed change step: 1Kts
Max to Min Speed change time: 3 seconds
Range: 11,000m at maximum speed, and 23,000 at minimum speed.

MU90 TORPEDO MAIN ACOUSTIC FEATURES

Operational bands: 6
Operational bandwidth: >>10KHz
Acoustic coverage: 120°H x 70°V
Max. Active detection Range: >2500m
Echo sounding navigation: yes
Simultaneous targets: up to 10

Source naval-technology.com

ATR 72 MP self protection system and countermeasures

leonardocompany.com

Self protection systems on the ATR 72 MP aircraft include chaff and flare dispenser and a warning system for radars, missiles and lasers. The standard aircraft configuration includes ESM and self-protection systems for reconnaissance and operations in mission critical battlefield.

modellismosalento.it

All ELT/160 RWR?

elt-roma.com

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SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS

Very High Interception Probability
Full azimuth coverage
Wideband radio frequency coverage (E to K)
Automatic warning of high priority emitters
Capability to operate also with raw data libraries (mission data)
Capability to automatically analyse, classify, display and record also unknown emissions (emissions not pre-loaded in the library)
Capability to operate as an EW Controller that exploits/performs functions for multi-sensor coordination
Lightweight
Flight line re-programmable
Easy field maintainability (LRU philosophy)

All versions can be interfaced with multi-function displays (some versions are provided with their synthetic display). Source elt-roma.com

ELT/741 ESM system?

elt-roma.com

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SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS

Very High Interception Probability
Full azimuth coverage
Wideband radio frequency coverage (C to K bands)
Automatic warning of high priority emitters
Dedicated functions for data collection, recording and accurate processing
Fast and unambiguous threat identification exploiting all of the measured emission parameters (e.g.: FREQ, PW, PRI, TOA, ARP, MOP)
Capability to operate also with raw data libraries (mission data)
Automatic analysis, classification, display and recording of even unknown emissions
Capability to operate as an EW Controller that exploits/performs functions for multi- sensor coordination
Lightweight
Flight line re-programmable
Easy field maintainability (LRU philosophy)

All versions can be interfaced with multi-function displays and integrated with ECM systems and platform data bus. Source elt-roma.com

Engine details of ATR 72 MP

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The power plant of the aircraft includes two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW 127M turboprops, which each provides a maximum take-off power of 2,750shp.

2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW 127M turboprops

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The PW100/PW150 engine family is the benchmark for low fuel consumption on routes of 350 miles or less. That means they consume 25% to 40% less fuel and produce up to 50% fewer CO2 emissions than similar-sized regional jets. Our engines are also biofuel compatible. Airlines and governments count on the reliability and versatility of our engines to fly in many challenging environments.

PW118 to PW127 Engines – two-spool, two-stage centrifugal compressors

All rotors integrally bladed
Each driven independently by low pressure and high pressure compressor turbines
No variable geometry
Easy electric start – no APU required

Source pwc.ca

The engine is fitted with a Hamilton Sundstrand 568F six-blade, variable-pitch propeller.

leonardocompany.com

ATR 72 MP aircraft performance

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leonardocompany.com

The ATR 72 MP aircraft can cruise at a maximum speed of 459.29km/h. It can fly at an operational altitude of 7,620m, but has a maximum endurance of ten hours at 1,524m altitude.

The aircraft can take-off from runways as short as 1,170m and land on runways as short as 630m.

The aircraft can be operated in extreme weather conditions and altitudes. It features a Hotel Mode, which enables the aircraft to operate from remote bases.

Main material source airforce-technology.com

Images are from public domain unless otherwise stated

Main image by Marina Militare