Leonardo has recently carried out an experimental aerial activity demonstrating the suitability of the ATR MP aircraft to carry out parachute launch missions, using the openable in-flight door installed at the rear of the fuselage.
The activity, successfully carried out at the end of July, allowed for the launch of paratroopers, the bound and unconstrained launch of dummies and the demonstration of the effectiveness of recovery procedures in emergency conditions. This demonstration confirms the versatility of the ATR MP, already chosen by numerous customers, for the possibility of being quickly configured to carry out missions with different purposes, low operating costs and high reliability that derive from being developed on the ATR 600 turboprop platform. in its 42 and 72 seat variants, leader in the civilian market. The ATR MP is equipped with the most modern mission, communication and sensor systems, thanks to which it is able to acquire, process and transmit or receive information in real time to and from the command and control centers on the ground, in air or at sea, in order to ensure coordination and effectiveness of operations.
The heart of the mission suite is Leonardo's ATOS system (Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance) that manages the vast range of sensors that the aircraft is equipped with and combines the information gathered presenting an overall tactical situation (data fusion), providing excellent awareness of the situation to the operators of the mission system (on the ATR 72 MP can be boarded up to 4 stations of last generation). The aircraft, which can carry out missions lasting up to 10 hours, can also be equipped with a self-protection system, fully integrated with the mission system and with basic avionics.
The ATR MP is today used in its various variants by the Guardia di Finanza, the Harbor Master's Office and the Italian Air Force to carry out maritime patrol missions, search and identification of surface ships, search and rescue (SAR), of combating drug trafficking / piracy / smuggling, monitoring and intervention in the event of ecological disasters and protection of territorial waters. The ATR MP is also used by several foreign customers.
