Leonardo is participating at the 13th edition of LAAD Defense & Security, in Rio de Janeiro 11-14 April, the most important trade exhibition in Latin America. After the recent selection of the Centauro II 120mm armoured vehicle made by the CIO Consortium - of which Leonardo has an equal share with Iveco Defense Vehicles - and in the frame of the Brazilian programme “VBC Cav - MSR 8×8”, the company is now focused on its land defence systems. This includes the 120mm HITFACT MkII turret (photo), already in service and in production, which has advanced performance in terms of effectiveness and connectivity. The system is able to respond to modern operational requirements such as modularity, digitization, and interoperability.
In naval electronics, with a decade of experience in the sector, Leonardo is able to supply and integrate solutions for naval defence and surveillance on board latest- and next-generation platforms of different classes. The company designs and develops scalable, modular command and control systems for surface units and submarines, which make it possible to acquire, combine and process information from various sensors in real-time and return complete situational awareness. Leonardo is also able to supply integrated systems for coastal and maritime surveillance, such as the VTMS (Vessel Traffic Management System), where each technological component plays a specific role within a net-centric architecture, which can include maritime and geospatial platforms, drones by Leonardo, such as those of the Falco family, and maritime patrol aircraft such as the ATR 72MP and the AW139. On board these aircraft, the ATOS (Airborne Tactical Observation System) mission system integrates and manages the surveillance sensors, ensuring a high degree of interoperability and efficiency in the control of vast land and sea areas.
Small, medium, and large calibre underwater and naval defence systems, including the 76/62 Super Rapido utilised by the Brazilian Navy, complete the range of solutions that highlight Leonardo as an integrator of technologies within complex defence architectures and protection suites.
In the field of electronic warfare, Leonardo is presenting technologies and solutions for the protection of crews and aircraft, such as the BriteCloud countermeasure against radar-guided, surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles and the SAGE ESM (Electronic Support Measure) electronic intelligence system which can be installed on-board a wide range of aircraft.
To date, more than 190 helicopters are present in Brazil. There are 400 units present in the region, employed in different operational roles, from private transport to law enforcement and public services, as well as offshore transport and naval applications. South America shows significant potential with medium- and long-term development for EMS/SAR operations, and disaster relief operations. The AW119Kx is the first single-engine light helicopter, and the only one fully certified, to meet all IFR (instrument flight rule) standards. The platform offers a modern avionics suite and a spacious interior to allow greater operational flexibility. Operators around the world benefit from the best combination of performance and load capacity among single-engine helicopters, combined with high safety standards guaranteed by the redundancy of the main systems. The AW119Kx is able to offer exceptional controllability and maneuverability, even in the presence of high temperatures and at altitude. In operation with the Police Forces of Brazil and Argentina and the armed forces of Ecuador, the aircraft is ideal for emergency medical services (EMS) and for rescue missions thanks to its performance and capabilities, it maintains the typical characteristics of a light twin engine through the redundancy of all critical systems, while its autonomy and wide range of action allow operators to intervene quickly in case of accidents over large distances.
To cope with new threats, law enforcement agencies are called upon to operate in increasingly evolved ways. The AW169 is a unique and versatile vehicle that allows law enforcement professionals to intervene quickly in ever-changing and demanding missions. Exceptional in its multi-role capabilities, the AW169 is the ideal solution for missions such as surveillance, air support, drug trafficking, border patrol, medical evacuation and personnel recovery, natural disasters, SAR, fire-fighting and public utility services. The advanced avionics suite and cockpit design improve visibility and minimise pilot fatigue, allowing the crew to focus efforts on the mission.
Simply unrivaled is the AW139 which boasts the impressive distinction of best-selling twin-engine helicopter in its class, with over 1,130 units in service with customers worldwide. It is placed in the 7 tons category, with transport capacity of up to 15 people and a multi-role vocation thanks to the rapid configurability, its open architecture and comprehensive range of sensors, communication, and data sharing systems necessary to operate in a network-centric environment. The platform is an ideal replacement of the UH-1s present in the LATAM region, with its various configurations, including law enforcement, air ambulance, VIP transport, SAR, and offshore oil platform support.
Through a global network active 24/7 all over the world, Leonardo guarantees support and training services for fleets in service, responding effectively and safely to the requests of civil and military operators, wherever they are. Leonardo's main mission is to provide the necessary technical assistance, training of flight and ground personnel, maintenance and updates to helicopters throughout their life cycle. In Itapevi, near São Paulo, the new logistics assistance centre is operational and capable of supporting the growing Brazilian and South American helicopter fleet.
Leonardo’s positioning as a global leader in training is well underlined at LAAD with the M-346, an aircraft that enables young pilots to develop the knowledge, skills and practices necessary to ensure transition to the most modern combat aircraft. The M-346 is the fulcrum of the International Flight Training School (IFTS) created by Leonardo and the Italian Air Force. Already chosen by the air forces of Qatar, Germany, Singapore and Japan, it was selected as the flagship campus for the NATO Flying Training in Europe (NFTE) project. The M-346 is a fully integrated advanced training system, which includes a complete system of simulators and ground training devices, as well as a fully operational Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) environment developed entirely by Leonardo, it shows future pilots to the most complex operational scenarios. In addition to being the most advanced pre-operational trainer aircraft on the market today, the radar-equipped version of the M-346FA maintains all its training capabilities to enable it to be an exceptionally cost-effective light fighter.
Widely recognised as the most effective multi-role military transport aircraft in its size class, the C-27J Next Generation features new avionics and aerodynamic developments for greater efficiency and improved operating performance. Used in the most challenging operational environments, from the high altitudes of the Andes to Afghanistan, the C-27J can be rapidly transformed into the configuration required for the relevant mission. As a ‘tactical airlifter’, the aircraft’s versatility extends from airlifts of troops and cargo to airdrops of paratroopers and materials, from medical battlefield evacuation to VIP transportation, from humanitarian assistance and natural disaster response to firefighting. The C-27J can be also configured in the Maritime Patrol (MPA), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Command-Control-Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C3ISR) versions. The Spartan reflects well today the very essence of national security, proving to be one of the best assets for supporting the operations of the defence forces as for its fundamental contribution to civil protection tasks, capable of reaching the population in the most challenging and remote areas of the country.
Leonardo’s fixed-wing programmes also include the ATR 72MP, a twin-engine turboprop aircraft, used to perform maritime patrol tasks even in particularly complex scenarios. The aircraft integrates the characteristics of reliability, maintainability, low life cycle cost and comfort of the ATR 72-600 from which it derives, with a state-of-the-art mission system, advanced sensors and a complete communication suite. It is also configurable for anti-submarine warfare (ASW - Anti Submarine Warfare), anti-surface (AsuW - Anti-surface Warfare) and ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) roles.
