The fleet of P-72A aircraft is primarily engaged in Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, maritime patrol, and search and rescue operations at sea.
He has reached the milestone of 20,000 flight hours, over a time span ranging from November 2016 to May 2024, the fleet of P-72A aircraft of the 41st Antisom Wing of the Italian Air Force, located at Sigonella Airport.
Following an initial period of operational trials, the P-72A began operating on real missions from December 2017, closing the Squadron's operational gap in terms of ISTAR requirements (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) and a contribution to search and rescue operations at sea.
The complex suite of sensors with which the weapon system is equipped P-72A it allows the spectrum of missions in which the aircraft can be used to be significantly broadened. In particular, the system's strong net-centric capability allows it to be used in both complex training and real-world scenarios, characterised by integration with numerous Armed Forces assets, in increasingly joint, combined ed inter-agency, a characteristic of all modern operations.
It 41st Anti-Submarine Wing of Sigonella continuously guarantees its primary mission of surveillance of the main streets of maritime traffic, combating illicit trafficking and international terrorism, and contributing to safeguarding of human life at sea. At the same time, the range of employment of the asset has been expanded to new types of mission in which the aircraft can effectively express its contribution to the defence of the country's vital interests.
The crews of the 41st Wing's P-72A are made up of pilot officers and operator non-commissioned officers who belong to both the Royal Navy that the’Italian Air Force. This is a characteristic which, for many years now, has been a well-tested and efficient example of synergy and integration between two Armed Forces, and which is well ahead of the current joint-service drive within the military instrument.
For this reason, following the establishment of the Anti-Submarine Aviation in 1957, the 41st Wing still maintains a typically Interforce and is perfectly integrated through the combination of two Components (AM and MM).
