Italian Customs Police orders one ATR 72MP

Leonardo has sold a single ATR 72MP to the Guardia Di Finanza (Italian Customs Police, the company announced on July 13, 2018.

The €44 million contract also includes associated logistics support and training services and was awarded following a European tender process. The additional aircraft will be delivered in 2019 and the contract includes unspeciied options that Leonardo says could increase its value up to €250 million.

Leonardo CEO Alessandro Profumo said: “We are proud that the Italian Customs Police, which already operates our aircraft and helicopters, continues to place their trust in our capabilities.”

The turboprop ATR 72MP is based on the ATR 72-600 airliner and is already in service with the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (Italian Air Force) as the P-72A.

Similar to the P-72A, the Guardia Di Finanza’s aircraft will be equipped with Leonardo’s Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance mission system, which manages the aircraft’s sensors and fuses the data to present a single tactical picture to the crew.

In Guardia Di Finanza service, the ATR 72MP will perform maritime patrol, ISR and SAR operations.

Profumo added: “It comes equipped with our latestgeneration communications and data sharing systems, meaning the aircraft can transmit and receive real-time information to and from ground-based command and control centres and airborne/maritime platforms, improving co-ordination and maximising operational efectiveness.”

Nigel Pittaway