Rome 24 February 2015
Finmeccanica / Selex ES played a decisive role in the success of the first flight of the prototype 001 P.1HH Hammerhead Uncrewed Aerial System of Piaggio Aerospace, which took place after an extensive flight campaign carried out with the technology demonstrator of the aircraft at the Italian Air Force base of Trapani-Birgi.
The prototype flew with the Finmeccanica – Selex ES new vehicle control and management system for the first time and was remotely operated from the ground control station (GCS), via Finmeccanica – Selex ES datalink and communications systems to ensure safe operations during all flight activities. Finmeccanica – Selex ES also cooperates with Piaggio Aerospace to ensure highly effective integration.
The P.1HH HammerHead mission management system is based on SkyISTAR, a new system that can be integrated on any type of platform and which is ideally suited for patrol and ISR missions (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance). The system is capable of responding to diverse threats that range from terrorist attacks to illegal immigration, protection of Exclusive Economic Zones, infrastructures and critical sites.
SkyISTAR built-in sensor fusion, data management and exploitation features of SkyISTAR enable highly effective border control, wide area surveillance, targeted surveillance, environmental and disaster control missions.
Finmeccanica – Selex ES’s contribution to the P1.HH program benefits from the company’s experience in developing and manufacturing UAS surveillance systems and sensors. In addition to providing the avionics mission system, the company also provides the aircraft’s sensor suite, communications and customized Data-Link solutions, as well as a suite of sensors.
This first flight of the prototype is the starting point of a broad campaign of flight tests aimed at certification, which will enable to market one of the most advanced uncrewed systems that could, in effect, become the first, European MALE, at the forefront of technology and capable of performing a wide range of security and surveillance missions.
Finmeccanica – Selex ES is Piaggio Aerospace’s partner of choice and will cooperate in the further development and production of the P.1HH Hammerhead programme