Tecnam and Leonardo have signed a memorandum of understanding that will allow customers to order Tecnam's P2012 Sentinel special mission platform (SMP) fully integrated with Leonardo's Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance (ATOS) system as an off the shelf product. The P2012 Sentinel SMP ATOS ISR will be outfitted with a full intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) suite based on Leonardo's ATOS mission system.

The P2012 Sentinel SMP is the most capable Tecnam special mission platform aircraft, an advanced surveillance platform offering CS/FAR 25 capabilities at the acquisition and operating cost of a CS/FAR 23 platform. The maker says it can deliver the mission capabilities normally associated with higher class platforms at a fraction of their acquisition and operating costs. The payload capacity and large cabin volume allow for excellent mission performance with plenty of space for the installation of sensors and the operators' workspace. A Tecnam Sentinel at its maximum take off weight of 3,680 kg, equipped with a full mission suite and up to seven 90 kg crew members (pilots, sensor operators and observers), will provide up to nine hours of endurance.

The P2012's twin engine design ensures the safety of the platform and provides an exhaust-free field of view to the sensors for increased accuracy and noise-free operations. The position of the hatches under the fuselage ensures a carbon monoxide-free cabin that will enhance the safety of the crew members (one or two pilots and up to five mission operators).

The integration of the Leonardo ATOS system enhances the P2012 SMP's multi-mission capabilities, providing customers with a turnkey ISR platform offer.

ATOS is an advanced airborne mission system that integrates and manages a multitude of sensors and sub-systems, providing the user with full situation awareness during challenging ISR missions. The system's human machine interface (HMI) improves the user experience and reduces operator workload.

More than 60 ATOS installations are in operation around the world, and the system has evolved over the years to meet new and emerging customer requirements.

The P2012 Sentinel SMP ATOS ISR delivers advanced surveillance over maritime and land domains, day or night. Missions include SAR support, naval traffic control and electronic/communications intelligence.

The standard P2012 Sentinel SMP ATOS ISR configuration includes the proven Gabbiano TS-80 ultra-light radar and LEOSS EO/IR turret, both from Leonardo.

Additional sensors can also be integrated, such as Leonardo's SAGE ESM and Spider COMINT systems for signal intelligence applications. ATOS is fully customisable and can integrate third party sensors in order to fulfil customers' requirements.

“We are very proud to partner with Leonardo in the surveillance market providing a new platform equipped with the ATOS mission system. This proven, advanced and capable system, paired to the latest P2012 Sentinel aircraft, integrates and widens the ISR offer with a safe, capable, interoperable and low-cost special mission platform,” says Tecnam CEO Paolo Pascale.

“Through this partnership with Tecnam, we're pleased to be bringing an innovative ISR solution with an extremely light footprint to the international market. The P2012 Sentinel, equipped with latest-generation sensors through Leonardo's ATOS Light system, is the ideal turnkey solution for a number of demanding surveillance missions,” says Leonardo SVP airborne systems Luca Picollo.