AIR International – June 2018

http://www.airinternational.com | 79

LEONARDO-FINMECCANICA P-72A MILITARY

speed and shorter endurance. The patrol
altitude is also different: in the Atlantic anti-
submarine missions were flown at very low
altitudes, but the P-72s average cruising
level is around 5,000ft. The selected altitude
depends mainly on the type of mission
assigned and on weather conditions. In the
ASW role, the P-72 can offer support to naval
and air assets, but, unlike the Atlantic, it is
unable to operate autonomously, especially
in the search and attack mode.
The P-72 is fully integrated in the
network-centric concept promulgated by
the Aeronautica Militare, being capable
of acting as a communications node for
complex communications networks. The
P-72 is just at home acting as an airborne
command post or ISR platform as a maritime
patrol aircraft. It is inter-force capable, able
to support not just naval units, but also
troops on the ground and other air assets.
The Aeronautica Militare and the Marina
Militare are still evaluating and testing its
capabilities, exploring various scenarios to
use it in and learning how to get the best of
it in the many roles it can perform: maritime
patrol, locating and identifying surface
shipping, SAR missions, ELINT operations,
prevention of piracy, detecting contraband
and monitoring illicit traffic.
The P-72 was created as an interim
solution and as such lacks any anti-submarine
capability, although it could be converted for

the role, being fitted with mounting points for

both weapons rails and the integration of sonar

buoy launchers. A magnetic anomaly detector

sensor could also be fitted. Such modifications

would certainly be expensive, and it remains to

be seen whether they will ever be introduced,

or whether Italy prefers to equip itself with a

new, more capable, and role-specific asset.

In conclusion, the P-72A is undoubtedly

a capable maritime patrol aircraft, but

thanks to its state-of-the art sensors and

communications suites it is much more.

There is interest in the type from other

nations, including Malaysia and Pakistan;

and other orders may come, besides those

from Italy and Turkey. The selection of the

P-72A has resulted in Italy losing its airborne

anti-submarine warfare capability. That didn’t

seem to be much of a problem ten years

ago, given the decline of submarine activity

in the Mediterranean, but today, several

navies with Mediterranean coastlines are

deploying modern and efficient undersea

units. The Italian Ministry of Defence must

make some hard choices. The degradable

skills possessed by the Atlantic community

are being lost and re-forming a credible

anti-submarine warfare force will become

an increasingly slow, complex and expensive

process as time passes. AI

SATCOM antennas

are housed in the

white radome a top

the aft fuselage.

The P-72A tail configuration houses a laser warning

receiver, electronic support measures and radar

warning receiver sensors on the stern probe.

This shot shows the positions of laser warning receiver, electronic support measures and radar warning

receiver sensors on the aircraft’s forward fuselage.