The MoU signed at Paris Air Present 2025 paves the way in which for a possible multi-mission maritime patrol plane, as Italy appears past the P-72A and assesses contenders just like the Kawasaki P-1.
On the Paris Air Present 2025, Leonardo and Bombardier signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to discover a collaboration for the event of an Superior Maritime Multi Mission Platform. The chosen base platform is the Bombardier International 6500, a part of the broader Bombardier International household of long-range enterprise jets.
Over the previous twenty years, the International Household has established itself as a trusted and versatile platform for a variety of presidency, navy and particular mission roles. These plane, famend for his or her long-range, high-altitude functionality and low operational prices, have been tailored by a number of nations for missions together with Airborne Early Warning and Management (AEW&C), Indicators Intelligence (SIGINT), Digital Intelligence (ELINT), Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Airborne Command and Management and Maritime Surveillance.
A number of fashions within the household, such because the International 6000 and International 6500, have been militarized with superior mission programs and sensor suites by main defence contractors, together with Saab (GlobalEye), Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris. This new collaboration between Leonardo and Bombardier goals to leverage the confirmed capabilities of the International Sequence to fulfill the evolving necessities of contemporary maritime area consciousness.
The Bombardier International 6500 Platform
The International 6500 is a cutting-edge ultra-long-range enterprise jet, launched as a part of the Bombardier’s International household. The 6500 is positioned between the International 6000 and the International 7500.
Powered by two Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 engines, the plane can journey as much as 6,600 nautical miles, with the flexibility to achieve a most velocity of Mach 0.90 and a ceiling of 51,000 toes.
The avionic suite is centred across the Bombardier Imaginative and prescient Flight Deck, constructed upon the Collins Professional Line Fusion avionic. The plane is supplied with 4 excessive decision digital shows, a full artificial imaginative and prescient system, twin head up shows with an built-in enhanced imaginative and prescient (Mixed Imaginative and prescient System) and a sophisticated flight administration system that may help the most recent efficiency capabilities necessities.
The Maritime Multi Mission Suite
The core of the system that can probably be retrofitted on the International 6500 is known as ATOS (Airborne Tactical Commentary and Surveillance), a complicated mission administration system developed by Leonardo.
ATOS can combine a variety of sensors, together with AESA (Energetic Electronically Scanned Array) Radar, electro optical and infrared programs, digital help measures, AIS (Computerized Identification System) transponders and IFF (Identification Buddy or Foe) programs right into a single interface able to processing and displaying actual time information.
Constructed with versatility in thoughts, ATOS might be deployed on a broad number of airborne platform, together with fixed-wing plane, helicopters and unmanned aerial automobiles (UAVs). The system is definitely operational on plane just like the ATR 42/72 MP, P-72A, Beechcraft King Air, AW-139 and AW-169. ATOS is ideally fitted to a wide selection of missions, together with maritime patrol, border surveillance, anti-smuggling, unlawful fishing prevention, search and rescue and Anti-Submarine Warfare.
Complementing the ATOS system, the International 6500 will even combine Leonardo’s Osprey household of multi-AESA radar. Designed for next-generation ISR missions, this superior radar supplies strong, multi-domain situational consciousness, combining maritime surveillance, high-resolution floor mapping, floor shifting goal indication and air to air detection capabilities in a single, compact system. Its integration will allow the International 6500 to carry out successfully throughout quite a lot of missions. The International 6500 shall be outfitted with the most recent communication programs and self-protection tools.
Along with its surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, the plane will even help provisions for weapons programs and sonar integration to reinforce its operational effectiveness in opposition to each floor vessels and submarine threats.
An in-depth view of the Counter Maritime Operations
Counter Maritime Operations (CMO) contain actions taken to counter threats within the maritime area, together with enemy floor ships, submarines, and coastal threats. The so-called Air Energy Contribution to Counter Maritime Operations (APCMO) refers to using air belongings and space-based programs) to help operations aimed toward countering maritime threats and gaining management or denying the enemy use of the maritime area. Inside the APCMO framework, two key tactical mission units are Anti-Floor Warfare (ASuW) and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), which develop the function of air platforms past surveillance to incorporate direct engagement of maritime threats.
Anti-Floor Warfare
Anti-Floor Warfare (ASuW) focuses on the detection, identification, and potential engagement of hostile or suspicious floor vessels, which can embrace standard naval forces, quick assault craft, or non-state actors working in delicate or contested waters. ASuW succesful platforms are outfitted with maritime surveillance radar, providing wide-area detection and precision focusing on modes; EO/IR programs for long-range visible identification; and ESM programs for detecting and geolocating electromagnetic emissions. Integration with safe tactical datalinks permits these platforms to cue naval strike belongings or contribute to networked focusing on frameworks in joint operations.
Anti-Submarine Warfare
Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations handle submerged threats, significantly important in gray-zone conflicts, close to strategic chokepoints, or inside contested maritime areas. ASW missions usually contain the deployment and monitoring of sonobuoys, acoustic sign processing, and using Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD) programs for pinpointing submarine exercise at shut vary.
These capabilities are additional enhanced by the fusion of underwater risk information with real-time ISR from airborne and floor sensors. When paired with strike coordination instruments or integration with naval ASW belongings, ASW-capable plane contribute to persistent undersea area consciousness and deterrence. By the mixed execution of ISR, ASuW, and ASW missions, APCMO delivers a scalable and adaptable method to safeguarding maritime safety in an more and more advanced and contested international atmosphere.
Exploring the ASW/ASuW Platform Options
As defined final yr, commenting the Italian MOD’s annual multiyear protection planning doc (Documento Programmatico Pluriennale della Difesa), which reviewed the navy funding for 2024-2026, the Italian Air Pressure and Navy are engaged on a joint acquisition program for the primary two new Maritime Multi Mission Plane (M3A) which is able to present a long-range Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) functionality.
Actually, because the retirement of the Breguet 1150 Atlantic in 2017, Italy misplaced the lengthy vary ASW functionality, because the P-72s are primarily used for ISR and ELINT (Digital Intelligence). The research for this program have been ongoing since then, with some rumors mentioning a doable curiosity within the P-8 Poseidon.
Nonetheless, Italy’s present limitations in fixed-wing Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Floor Warfare, the Bombardier International 6500, configured for long-range maritime operations, presents a extremely enticing answer. Its prolonged endurance, high-altitude efficiency, and spacious modular cabin present the perfect platform for the combination of ASW-specific programs, together with sonobuoy launchers, acoustic sign processors, and Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD) sensors. Moreover, the platform might be outfitted to help the deployment of precision-guided weapons, comparable to air-launched torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. Not like the presently operated P-72A, presently operated collectively by the Italian Navy and Air Pressure, the International 6500 in such configuration may present a legitimate and credible fixed-wing ASW/ASuW choice for the Italian Defence.
Rumors recommend that one other related comparator to Italy’s potential curiosity in a maritime-configured Bombardier International 6500 is the Japanese Kawasaki P-1, a purpose-built maritime patrol plane designed for long-range ASW, ASuW, and wide-area ISR missions. The P-1 options devoted navy programs, together with sonobuoy processors, a magnetic anomaly detector (MAD), and the flexibility to hold air-launched torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.
Nonetheless, the International 6500 affords lengthy endurance, a excessive operational ceiling, and a versatile mission cabin, making it a viable competitor out there for nations looking for a multi-mission maritime answer.
Italy and Japan keep shut defence cooperation, exemplified by their joint involvement within the International Fight Air Programme (GCAP) and collaboration on pilot coaching initiatives. Regardless of this partnership, the maritime patrol area represents an space the place their respective platforms, the P-1 and a possible International 6500 configuration, might compete, significantly in export markets the place price, interoperability, and modularity are essential components.
Noteworthy, whereas not totally off the desk (at the least, formally), the P-8 Poseidon choice, which gave the impression to be gaining important traction till a few years in the past, now appears to have misplaced momentum.
