The development of a new multi-role patrol aircraft for surveillance missions, Mpa, is finally realized today with the contract signed between Piaggio Aero Industries and Adasi (Abu Dhabi Autonomous System Investments). The contract, worth approximately 100 million euros, sets out the next four years' design of two prototypes of the aircraft, together with the progress of mission systems, ready for first flight in 2014.
La Saab Defence and the Security Company were tasked with supplying sophisticated airborne sensors and surveillance equipment specific to the new MPA aircraft. This occurred in an agreement between the two organizations and Piaggio Aero Industries, which carefully selected Swedish Saab as the “System Supplier“. It is not just any aircraft, but an aircraft aimed at aerial surveillance, land, coastal and maritime patrol missions. Basically, it is an evolution of the Piaggio Aero P.180 Avanti II, physically not very different but technologically much more advanced, capable of flying at an altitude of 12.500 metres, with a range of over 10 hours and 6.100 kilometres, and a cruising speed of 350 knots.
“The launch of the new MPA aircraft represents a very important event for Piaggio Aero, which thus enters the air surveillance sector with a state-of-the-art product designed for any type of patrol mission“, declares the managing director of Piaggio Aero Alberto Galassi. "The new Multirole Patrol Aircraft is an essential program for Piaggio Aero, part of the strategy to diversify our products from business aviation only, which began in 2010 and was implemented with the fundamental support of our international partners, Mubadala Aerospace and Tata".
