Satellites, planes, and helicopters: there are a number of Leonardo's security technologies used by job rescuers in the southern parts of the USA affected by Hurray Harvey's passage.
The images of the Italian COSMO-SkyMed satellites are used in Texas to monitor the consequences of the rains and in particular to control the floods along the coast. Leonardo is in fact supplying images, maps and value-added services based on the satellite data of the COSMO-SkyMed radar constellation, through e-GEOS (joint venture between Telespazio and ASI). Radar satellites are particularly useful in these situations as they can also be observed at night and through clouds, including those produced by the hurricane, unlike optical satellites. It is a further demonstration of the excellence of this all-Italian system, already in the past of fundamental importance in the management of similar emergencies. e-GEOS is also using the FLooD system, in combination with the analysis capabilities offered by US partners such as URSA and Orbital Insight, demonstrating the great versatility of use of information obtained through COSMO-SkyMed. The program was born from the collaboration between ASI and the Ministry of Defense, was implemented by Leonardo with its joint ventures Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio, and is operated and managed by the space centers of Fucino and Matera through Telespazio and e-GEOS.
The US Coast Guard (USCG) has announced, through its website, that it has deployed the C-27J aircraft produced by Leonardo, in the context of disaster area operations, guaranteeing the transport of crews, vehicles and supplies medical. In addition to missions in the event of disasters, natural disasters and search and rescue, the USCG, which is integrating into its 14 C-27J fleet, also uses the aircraft as part of patrols and combating illegal trafficking of goods and people, of homeland security. Thanks to the excellent characteristics of the aircraft in terms of autonomy, permanence in the area of operations, speed and load capacity, it is not the first time that the C-27J is used for operations of this type in the USA, such as on the occasion of Hurricane Sandy .
AW139 helicopter operators in the Gulf of Mexico area are supporting rescue missions in Texas and Louisiana, destined to continue in the coming weeks. The wide and versatile AW139 cab can be configured to use all the necessary equipment, such as electro-optical sensors and electromedical systems, as well as equipment for transport and search and rescue. Thanks to its performance, the AW139 stands out from other helicopters due to its ability to operate in particularly difficult weather conditions and with great autonomy, safety and flexibility.
