ATR 72-600 LRPA are likely for the Philippines
Elbit Systems press release
Elbit Systems announced today that it was awarded a contract worth approximately $114 million with an Asian-Pacific country to supply two long-range patrol aircraft (LRPA) equipped with an advanced and comprehensive mission suite. The contract will be carried out over a period of five years.
The two LRPA aircraft will be based on new ATR 72-600 and Elbit Systems will integrate in each aircraft a mission suite that includes a Mission Management System, Electro-Optics, Radar, SIGINT, Communication and more.
Yoram Shmuely, General Manager of Elbit Systems Aerospace: “Elbit Systems has been supplying Special Mission Aircraft to various countries worldwide for over a decade for defense or governmental operational requirements. This contract extends the range of platforms and solutions we offer our customers, leveraging vast operational experience and in-house technologies and capabilities. We are proud to provide advanced solutions to our customers.”
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Naval News comments by Aaron-Matthew Lariosa:
The likely recipient of these long-range patrol aircraft is the Philippine Air Force, which has a long-standing program for maritime patrol aircraft. Currently, the service uses a variety of unmanned aerial systems, such as Elbit’s Hermes and Insitu’s ScanEagle, and modified utility aircraft to fulfill its ISR and MDA missions. It should be noted that the Elbit release does not specify any anti-submarine warfare equipment on the LRPAs, making it unclear if the new patrol aircraft will bring ASW capabilities to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The procurement of LRPA ATR-72s also marks the first procurement made by the new Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro as the Philippines prepares to enter its last phase of military modernization this year.
Existing users of the ATR-72 for Maritime Patrol roles include the Turkish Navy and Italian Navy. Malaysia recently ordered two aircraft as well.
