Tecnam-Leonardo P2012 Sentinel

Twin-Engine Special Mission Platform (SMP) [ 2022 ]

The Tecnam P2012 Sentinel is based in the proven, utility-minded P2012 Traveller twin-turboprop aircraft.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 06/29/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image from official Tecnam marketing materials.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]

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The Tecnam P2012 "Sentinel" is an all-weather, special-mission platform variant of the company's original P2012 "Traveller" twin-engine utility aircraft of 2020. In this earlier form, the aircraft went to the air for the first time during July of 2016 and saw commercial market series introduction in February of 2020. The airframe has been reconstituted for the Maritime Patrol (MP) role, outfitted with powerful sensors and manned onboard systems to suit the requirement, and, in June 2022, Tecnam teamed with Italian defense powerhouse Leonardo to showcase the new aircraft to the mass global market.

With roots in the Traveller, the aircraft retains the same form and performance as its forerunner. The turboprop engines are held high and ahead of the high-mounted wing mainplanes. Beyond providing excellent ground clearance, this arrangement enhances lift-versus-drag in "low-and-slow" flying actions - a perfect quality for a loitering platform. The fuselage aerodynamically-refined through its slab-sided, rounded edges approach and the flight deck sits behind a sharply sloped nosecone giving the pilots (seated side-by-side) good views of the terrain ahead. The tail unit is of single-finned arrangement with small-area, low-set horizontal planes for the needed control. The undercarriage is wheeled, retractable, and sports short legs, keeping the fuselage low to the ground when at rest.

External dimensions of the aircraft include a running length of 38.6 feet, a height of 14.4 feet, and a wingspan of 46 feet.

Internally, a crew of two plus five systems operators can be carried. The fuselage sides are lined with viewports for visual scanning and allowing natural lighting to permeate the cabin. The aircraft carries Identification-Friend-or-Foe (IFF), full search-tracking radar suite, cameras, satlink and datalink communications, SATellite COMmunications (SATCOM), and Electro-Optical / InfraRed (EO/IR) systems. The camera blister is modular, allowing equipment changes to suit customer requirements. The cockpit is dominated by three full-color Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) showcasing all pertinent real-time operating, performance, and systems data. Control yokes are positioned ahead of each pilot's seat with throttle controls shared in between. Workstations are positioned behind the flight deck in a single-aisle arrangement.

The versatility of the design means this aircraft can be pressed into a myriad of roles: border surveillance / security, maritime enforcement, drug interdiction, fisheries control, immigration control, environmental research and enforcement, Search and Rescue (SAR), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), anti-ship warfare, and SPECOPS support.

The Sentinel can cruise at speeds of 360 kmh and range out to 1,575 kilometers, giving it good "legs" over wide swathes of ocean and terrain. This power is provided by twin Lycoming TEO-540-C1A series turboprop engines developing 750 horsepower apiece. The units drive four-bladed variable-pitch MT propellers. Max gross weight of the aircraft reaches 3,680 kilograms. Its practical service ceiling is 5,945 meters.©MilitaryFactory.com

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June 2022 - Tecnam has teamed up with Leonardo to market its P2012 Sentinel Special Mission Platform aircraft to a wider global audience.

Specifications

Service Year

2022

Origin

Italy

Status

IN-DEVELOPMENT
Program in Progress.

Crew

5

Production

2
UNITS

Tecnam / Leonardo - Italy

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

Italy (possible)

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Special-Mission: Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy underwater elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and weapons.

✓ Special-Mission: Anti-Ship
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy surface elements through visual acquisition, radar support, and onboard weaponry.

✓ Special-Mission: Search & Rescue (SAR)
Ability to locate and extract personnel from areas of potential harm or peril (i.e. downed airmen in the sea).

✓ Maritime / Navy
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.

✓ Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

RADAR-CAPABLE

Houses, or can house (through specialized variants), radar equipment for searching, tracking, and engagement of enemy elements.

MULTI-ENGINE

Incorporates two or more engines, enhancing survivability and / or performance.

RUGGED AIRFRAME

Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.

HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE

Can reach and operate at higher altitudes than average aircraft of its time.

EXTENDED RANGE PERFORMANCE

Capability to travel considerable distances through onboard fuel stores.

MARITIME OPERATION

Ability to operate over ocean in addition to surviving the special rigors of the maritime environment.

CREWSPACE PRESSURIZATION

Supports pressurization required at higher operating altitudes for crew survival.

CREW-MANAGED

Beyond a pilot, the aircraft takes advantage of additional crew specialized in specific functions aboard the aircraft.

ENCLOSED CREWSPACE(S)

Features partially- or wholly-enclosed crew workspaces.

RETRACTABLE UNDERCARRIAGE

Features retracting / retractable undercarriage to preserve aerodynamic efficiency.

CAMERA EQUIPMENT

Payload supports photographic equipment providing still and / or real-time image / video results.

Length

38.7 ft
(11.80 m)

Width/Span

45.9 ft
(14.00 m)

Height

14.4 ft
(4.40 m)

Empty Wgt

5,247 lb
(2,380 kg)

MTOW

8,113 lb
(3,680 kg)

Wgt Diff

+2,866 lb
(+1,300 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the Tecnam P2012 Sentinel production variant)

monoplane / high-mounted / straight

Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.

High-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper-most position allowable along the dorsal line of the fuselage.

Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.

(Structural descriptors pertain to the Tecnam P2012 Sentinel production variant)

Installed: 2 x Lycoming TEO-540-C1A turboprop engines developing 750 horsepower each driving four-bladed propeller units.

Max Speed

261 mph
(420 kph | 227 kts)

Cruise Speed

224 mph
(360 kph | 194 kts)

Max. Speed Diff

+37 mph
(+60 kph | 32 kts)

Ceiling

19,505 ft
(5,945 m | 4 mi)

Range

979 mi
(1,575 km | 2,917 nm)

Rate-of-Climb

787 ft/min
(240 m/min)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Tecnam P2012 Sentinel production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

None. Mission equipment reserved for the maritime / over-water patrol role.

Supported Types

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

P2012 "Sentinel" - Base Series Designation.

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Image of the Tecnam-Leonardo P2012 Sentinel

Image from official Tecnam marketing materials.