Six P.1HH due for delivery to UAE this year
Piaggio Aerospace showcases a full-scale mockup of the P.1HH HammerHead and a P.180 AVANTI EVO at the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) in HALL 1, booth 1190.
P.1HH is an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and one of the few remotely piloted Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) programmes in Europe. It is designed for aerial, marine and terrestrial surveillance and reconnaissance. First deliveries are expected in 2018.
The turboprop AVANTI EVO is the latest generation of the P.180 AVANTI. Its five blade scimitar propellers and three-lifting surface configurations work together to provide unique aerodynamic performance. It offers superior climb performance and low emissions.
The two aircraft are entirely designed, developed and manufactured in Italy at the aerospace centre of excellence in Villanova d’Albenga, Liguria.
“FIA represents the most valuable opportunity to promote our excellence in both defence and business aviation industries. We started a new transformational path, which is already boosting production line and orders”, Renato Vaghi, Chief Executive Officer of Piaggio Aerospace, commented.
Recent flight tests of the P.1HH Hammerhead included beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) flight control by satellite. The flights were performed from Birgi Airport in Italy and used the Athena-Fidus communications satellite developed by Telespazio. The satellite link also received and passed along data from the HammerHead’s onboard sensors. The achievement, “is the evidence of Piaggio’s commitment to the continuous development of the P.1HH HammerHead [which has demonstrated] uncontested excellence within the industry,” said Piaggio Chief Technology Officer Fabio Guida.
Production of eight aircraft ordered by the UAE Armed Forces is underway, with six of them due for delivery this year. Piaggio is wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The Italian Ministry of Defence recently sent an acquisition request to Parliament’s defence commission for 20 Piaggio Aerospace P.2HH drones, costing a total of €766 million. The request describes the purchase of 10 piloting stations and 20 aircraft, which will be able to fly at 45,000ft, carrying out intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance missions.
