AirForces Monthly – September 2019

technologies, but on the other hand they have

lost a fixed-wing ASW/ASuW capability.

Located in the centre of the Mediterranean,

control of the sea – both above and below

the surface – is critical for Italy. With that in

mind, the loss of experience gained over 45

years of unbroken fixed-wing ASW/ASuW

can be considered regrettable. In fact, the

AM sees the P-72A as an ‘interim’ solution,

but restoring an offensive MPA capability

will depend on future defence budgets.

To date, three P-72As have been delivered to

the 88° Gruppo (88th Squadron) of the Italian

Air Force’s 41° Stormo (41st Wing), stationed at

Sigonella air base in Sicily. The third example,

handed over last December, is in ‘final

configuration’ incorporating upgraded sensors

and equipment, which will be retrofitted on the

first two. Delivery of the fourth is scheduled for

September/October and the AM was aiming to

achieve full operational capability in August.

Inside the P-72A

As a multi-role MPA, the P-72A is also capable

of command, control, communications,

computer, intelligence, surveillance and

reconnaissance (C4ISR) missions. It was

developed and built by Leonardo’s aircraft

division using the airframe of the ATR

72-600, one of the most successful regional

turboprops (ATR delivered the 1,000th 70-seat

ATR 72 in July last year, and more than 700

50-seat ATR 42s are in worldwide service).

Primary duties of the P-72A are maritime

patrol – search and identification of surface

vessels, command and control, electronic

intelligence (ELINT), search and rescue

(SAR) and control of exclusive economic

zones – as well as prevention of piracy

and illegal trafficking, which could include

movement of people, drugs or contraband.

The 13 crew of the Atlantic are reduced

to nine in the P-72A: two pilots, four multi-

system operators (MSO), one tactical

co-ordinator (TACCO) and two on-board

operators/observers. As on the Atlantic,

the crew is a mixed air force/navy team.

The airframe interior features extensive

changes to convert it from a civil aircraft to

a military MPA. Most of the modifications

are to accommodate the mission suite,

sensors and operator stations; only minor

adaptations have been introduced to the

flight deck. Internally, the aircraft is divided

into three sections: the cockpit, four operator

stations for the mission system and a

passenger and observer zone at the rear.

In the cockpit

In terms of pure flying, the P-72A is very

similar to the civil version. However, one of

the five large-format liquid-crystal displays

of the cockpit’s flight management system is

replaced by a tactical display (on the right).

C4ISR at sea

41° Stormo

The 41° Stormo was established on July 17,

1939 as a bomber wing and was disbanded in

1943. It was re-established on October 1, 1965
      at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport in Sicily, not
      far from its current air base in Sigonella. In this
      form it was structured around two squadrons –
      the 87° Gruppo and 88° Gruppo – both equipped
      with the Grumman S2F-1 (S-2A) Tracker.
      In 1971, the wing relocated to Sigonella where
      it received its first Atlantic the following year.
      Sigonella today houses the 41° Stormo, the
      11° Reparto Manutenzione Velivoli (11th Aircraft
      Maintenance Department), the 61° Gruppo Volo
      (part of the 32° Stormo, equipped with the MQ-1C
      unmanned aerial vehicle) and the NATO Alliance
      Ground Surveillance (AGS) Force. There is also
      a US naval air station – NAS Sigonella – that’s
      been established there for more than 50 years.
      The wing is named in memory of Capitano Athos
      Ammannato, killed flying a Savoia-Marchetti S.M.79
      during a wartime mission on February 20, 1941.

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