Leonardo offers an integrated approach to the security of the Mediterranean Basin

• On display in Athens – stand C8/Hall 4 – the Kronos Land air defence radar and an AW139 helicopter of the Italian Coast Guard

Rome. 08 May 2023 . Leonardo participates, in Athens from 9 to 11 May, at DEFEA, the international defence fair at the heart of the Mediterranean. Due to its centrality, the Mare Nostrum is particularly exposed to a series of multi-domain threats: it is, in fact, the crossroads of around 20% of world maritime traffic, 25% of container liner services, 30% of world oil flows and 65% of energy flows to Europe. Therefore it has become essential to protect this resource, which represents an engine of wealth, employment, and innovation.

Leonardo, as a high-tech champion in Defence and Security, is able to offer complete and multi-domain safety and security solutions, to help ensure the progress and wellbeing of the Mediterranean area. At the heart of the participation in DEFEA, the company presents its capabilities that allow a projection in all operational domains, including space and cybersecurity.

Starting with the Kronos family of multi-function radars, with over 40 examples in service all over the world – including Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and South America – in both land and naval variants, fixed and/or mobile versions, perform multiple functions simultaneously. The radars use the same sensor to perform different operational missions: from surveillance, to tracking, to the designation of aerial targets. The most recent of the family, the Kronos Grand Mobile High Power, has been chosen for the NATO range based on the island of Crete: it will be delivered in 2024 and will serve as an integrated air and missile defence system, guaranteeing the Hellenic Air Force and allies high levels of aviation safety during training and testing of other systems.

An AW139 helicopter of the Italian Coast Guard will also be present at the event. The AW139, the most successful international multi-role helicopter programme since its certification in 2004, has established itself as a benchmark for search and rescue tasks with military and government operators in several countries around the world and, in particular the Mediterranean area. The characteristics of high power and speed, large cabin space and modularity, highly-customised equipment, state-of-the-art avionics, high certification and safety standards, a modern approach to maintenance and training have proved to be fundamental in the missions of rescue in challenging environmental scenarios, such as the maritime and in all-weather conditions.

Another example of the excellence of Leonardo’s platforms is represented by the M-346 Master aircraft for the advanced training of latest generation fighter pilots. The M-346, recently selected by Greece under a government agreement with Israel, flew for the first time under Hellenic Air Force markings in early April and is on its way to the air base of Kalamata, home of the 120th Air Training Wing.

Leonardo’s ability to guarantee security and meet the needs of its customers is not only based on an adequate technological advantage but also on a system model, capable of aligning the company’s solutions with the priorities of its partners. This strong partnership approach underpins the proposal for the Hellenic Navy’s corvette programme where, if selected, Leonardo will play the role of systems integrator for the corvette’s Combat Management System (CMS) and key naval sensors, systems and artillery. If Leonardo’s team is successful, the partners are committed to supporting the development of the Greek maritime industry by building a solid foundation of advanced skills in the country. The company has already signed a number
of partnerships with potential Greek suppliers, laying the foundation for long-term business relationships within the Greek national industrial ecosystem.

In the naval field Leonardo can draw on over 60 years of experience as a strategic partner of many international navies. Its systems are aboard more than 1,000 units worldwide and, in many cases, compromise more than 40% of a ship’s components. Leonardo is currently one of the few companies with a complete offer for sea security, which includes Combat Management Systems (CMS), naval artillery, torpedo and missile systems (through MBDA, 25% owned) as well as sensors, communication systems mission and fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, crewed or remotely piloted, specifically designed for naval use.