Leonardo participates in the Singapore Airshow, the largest event in the aerospace industry in Asia, from the 6 to the 10 February, aiming at expansion of the presence and commercial growth in the region. Among the leaders in aerospace, defense and security, Leonardo will present its latest technologies and helicopters, aeronautics and avionics products to the market.
With a consolidated presence in Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Australia, Japan and Indonesia, Leonardo sees the Singapore Airshow as an important opportunity to present its range of solutions to government and civil customers. Leonardo wants to respond to the growing regional demand in the fields of maritime and land border surveillance, maritime patrol, air traffic control and air transport, offering state-of-the-art products. The opportunities that arise from these needs make Asia a pivotal area for the company's future growth, as also highlighted in the Business Plan recently presented by Leonardo. The presence at the Singapore Airshow therefore testifies to a vision based on the development of lasting relationships with current and future customers.
Leonardo boasts a historic presence in Singapore, including through an office in the country. In 2010 the Republic of Singapore Air Force became the first export customer of Leonardo's M-346 Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT). The Aermacchi M-346 is the most advanced trainer aircraft available on the market today and the only one specifically designed to prepare pilots for the latest generation aircraft. The flight envelope, the high thrust / weight ratio, the ability to develop high angles of attack and the extreme maneuverability, allow the M-346 to offer flight conditions comparable to those of the latest generation combat aircraft. This maximizes the effectiveness of training and reduces the need to carry out missions on more expensive and complex operational aircraft. The M-346 is also the ideal solution for the roles of "aggressor" and "companion trainer". The aircraft, already ordered by the air forces of Italy, Singapore, Israel and Poland, will soon be available in the Fighter Attack configuration to meet additional operational requirements.
Leonardo is also in Singapore with its air traffic control (ATC) systems. The most recent contract relates to a multi-million dollar agreement signed in 2015 to improve air traffic control capability at Singapore's Changi Airport. Leonardo's ATC systems are also active in other Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Leonardo's excellence in vertical flight is represented by successful helicopters such as the AW189, the market-leading super-medium helicopter and the intermediate models AW169 and AW139, which make up a family of new generation helicopters. Over 450 Leonardo helicopters of all types have been ordered to date by government, military and commercial operators in the region. These helicopters perform naval, public utility, national security, search and rescue, air ambulance, transport and patrol missions. The presence in Malaysia, Japan, Australia, Indonesia and South Korea is particularly strong.
In the fixed wing, the ATR 72MP, developed by Leonardo using the ATR 72-600 turboprop as a platform, is at the forefront of maritime patrol and benefits from ATR's global support network, optimizing all related logistical support activities. The ATR 72MP can carry out missions of up to 10 hours in roles such as maritime patrol, surface vessel search and identification, command, control and communication, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, search and rescue, drug prevention, piracy, smuggling, security territorial and monitoring and intervention in the event of environmental disasters. The C-27J Spartan is the answer to a wide range of operational requirements in the Asia-Pacific region where it is already successfully deployed by the Royal Australian Air Force.
Visitors to the Airshow will also have the opportunity to learn more about Leonardo's vast offer of ISR sensors and protection devices. Among the products presented, the second generation AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) surveillance radar, the “Osprey” radar, which offers high performance functionality with no moving parts. The Osprey will be showcased alongside AESA's PicoSAR radar, M-scan Grifo-346 radar and a range of electronic warfare protection and intelligence gathering equipment, as well as IFF and Software Defined Radio (SDR) equipment.