At LIMA 2023, a notable maritime and defense exhibition in Langkawi, Malaysia, the country formalized a deal with Leonardo to procure two ATR 72 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA).
The ATR 72 MPA, chosen by Malaysia in October, is well-suited to fulfill the country’s operational needs. The aircraft is engineered for various maritime patrol duties, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue operations, and environmental monitoring.
Equipped with a mission system, cutting-edge sensors, and a comprehensive communications suite, the ATR 72 MPA is primed for command, communications, control, intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance (C4ISR) missions over both land and sea.
The aircraft is fine-tuned for maritime patrol, electronic intelligence gathering, detection and tracking of surface and submerged targets, search and rescue operations, countering illicit activities like drug trafficking, piracy, and smuggling, and safeguarding territorial waters.
Leonardo’s ATOS (Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance) mission system, a modular system already utilized by military and law enforcement organizations, will be incorporated into the Malaysian ATR 72 MPA model. This system is known for managing the aircraft’s onboard sensors, collating the gathered data, and presenting a constantly updated tactical overview to the mission system operators.
Other nations employing the ATR-72 MPA in their fleets include Pakistan and Turkey.
Dario Marfè, SVP of Aircraft Commercial & Customer Services at Leonardo, expressed pride in Malaysia’s choice of the ATR 72 MPA, stating it epitomizes Leonardo’s advanced technological prowess in platform and system design and integration.
The ATR-based Special Mission aircraft have proven their ability to fulfill diverse customer requirements throughout the Asia-Pacific region, with numerous local ATR regional turboprop operators benefiting from extended logistics support.
