Guardia di Finanza and SELEX Galileo celebrate 10 years of success with the ATOS System

The Guardia di Finanza Air-Naval Operational Command based in Pratica di Mare and

SELEX Galileo, a Finmeccanica company,  celebrated  ten years of operations of the

ATOS aerial surveillance system on board ATR 42 MP aircraft produced by Alenia

Aeronautica, currently used by the Maritime Exploration Squadron (GEA).

 

The Maritime Exploration Squadron, the Guardia di Finanza’s airborne division, uses fixedwing

aircraft to ensure the entire Mediterranean basin’s coverage in the achievement of EU

maritime borders protection. It is an effective tool that has enabled the so-called Yellow

Flames to execute successful operations beyond the borders of Italy and the European

Union, on its own initiative and on request, and in collaboration with similar air-sea patrol

services from other Member States. Its exceptional achievements in struggling against drug

trafficking, which it also conducts over the Atlantic, have helped increase the international

prestige of the Guardia di Finanza’s Airborne Division.

 

In particular, it has participated in significant operations in collaboration with the Maritime

Analysis Operations Centre – Narcotics (MAOC-(N)) in Lisbon and the European Anti-Fraud

Office (OLAF) in Brussels. Thanks in part to the ATOS airborne surveillance system the

Squadron has been able to seize 7,286 kg of cocaine, 11,631 kg of hashish and 316 kg of

marijuana, as well as capturing 17 boats and arresting 36 people.

 

Of particular importance is the intensive activity conducted to prevent illegal immigration

phenomenon, assisting the tactical naval aviation unit based on the island of Lampedusa.

This unit is involved in containing flows of migrants from North Africa, which have increased

dramatically following serious humanitarian disasters and political crises in those countries.

In this delicate operating environment, the perfect synergy between operator, vehicle and

ATOS system has made it possible to locate and rescue around 20,000 men, women and

children and to arrest 42 people traffickers.

Over the past ten years, the Maritime Exploration Squadron and SELEX Galileo have worked

effectively, side by side, to train personnel and develop increasingly versatile and effective

versions of the ATOS system in response to the growing complexity of operations. Beyond

narcotics and immigration activities, the system is also used for maritime economic and

financial policing, which under Decree-Law no. 68/2001 is conducted exclusively by the

Guardia di Finanza’s naval aviation component, as well as for the protection of health and

the environment.

 

“We are delighted with our first 10 years of collaboration with SELEX Galileo,” said Brigadier

General Mennato Possemato, Commander of the Air-Naval Operational Command. “The

activities of the Air-Naval Operational Command have increased constantly in the last ten

years, in particular in the struggle against drug trafficking and all the seaborne crimes,” he

added. “The geopolitical context is increasingly complex and challenging, and we are certain

that by working together with industry and other bodies we will secure renewed success in

addressing the new challenges ahead of us.”

 

“For us Guardia di Finanza is more than simply first user of the ATOS system,” said Fabrizio

Giulianini, CEO of SELEX Galileo. “In recent years Guardia di Finanza has assisted us by

providing invaluable suggestions for evolution and upgrades that have undoubtedly had a

significant impact on our many international commercial successes. We hope to remain at

their side in the decades to come as providers of state-of-the-art technology.”

 

SELEX Galileo's presence on Turkish soil dates back to the 1970s when the company commenced its partnership with the Turkish Navy on the OGR7 programme, for which it still provides logistics and support. In 2006, SELEX Galileo won another important contract to supply the Turkish Navy’s ships with more than twenty SPN 730-LPI (Low Probability of Intercept) navigation radar systems.

 

Also in the naval sector, SELEX Galileo recently put forward the Silent Acquisition Surveillance System (SASS) based on Infrared Search and Track (IRST) technology for application on board Landing Ship Tanks (LSTs) in response to the requirement issued by the Turkish naval forces. The SASS system is already being used on the Cavour, the Italian Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier. The SASS has also been selected for the Italian frigates for the joint French-Italian FREMM programme