Piaggio resumes P.1HH HammerHead UAV flight test activity

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World Defense & Security Industry News - Piaggio Aerospace
 
 
Piaggio resumes P.1HH HammerHead UAV flight test activity
 
Piaggio Aerospace, a leading Italian aircraft manufacturer active in the business, defense and security sectors, today resumed flight test activity for the second prototype of its P.1HH HammerHead, the state of the art multipurpose Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) at Birgi Military Airport in Trapani today.
     
Piaggio's P.1HH HammerHead UAV
(Credit: Piaggio Aerospace)
     
Piaggio's P.1HH is an Unmanned Aerial System designed for aero, marine and terrestrial surveillance and reconnaissance. Entirely designed, developed and manufactured in Italy, P.1HH is the only remotely piloted MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) system in Europe. Consisting of two remotely piloted aerial vehicles (UAV), a Ground Control Station and integrated navigation and mission systems, P.1HH system is positioned at the very top end of remotely piloted MALE aircrafts.

The P.1HH Hammerhead is able to climb up to 45.000 feet, loitering quietly at low speed (135 KTAS) for an endurance of up to 16 flight hours and dashing at very high speed (up to 395 KTAS) to target. Its capabilities include being able to host several payload combinations and to perform multiple missions: aerial, land, coastal, maritime and offshore security, COMINT/ELINT, electronic warfare as well as other roles.

The P.1HH program integrates the capabilities of Italian companies of excellence, including Leonardo and Piaggio Aerospace, with the fundamental support of the Italian Ministry of Defense and the Italian Air Force.

The resumption of flight tests follows the completion of an intensive program of on the ground testing in recent months. The completion of the system and the first deliveries are planned in the course of 2018, in the context of the wider development plans of Piaggio Aerospace.