Italian AF First To Buy HammerHead UAV

The Italian Air Force will be the launch customer of the P.1HH HammerHead UAV. The Italian Air Force will acquire three UAV systems, including six platforms and three ground control stations, by 2016.
The HammerHead is an unmanned version of Piaggio's P180 business jet, equipped with systems supplied by Finmeccanica unit Selex. A prototype flew for the first timeDecember.
The Italian Air Force has been closely involved in the development of the UAV.
defensenews

HammerHead UAV prototype makes maiden flight

Piaggio Aerospace has announced that a prototype of its P.1HH HammerHead unmanned air vehicle has carried out its maiden flight.
The medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) prototype – dubbed Prototype 001 – was flown in December from Trapani Birgi air base in Italy, and will now continue its development and certification flight test campaign.
The Avanti II twin-pusher turboprop-derived Hammerhead was officially unveiled during Paris air show in 2013.
The 001 model that flew in December is characteristic of the final aerodynamic design, Piaggio says.
The “seamless” prototype test saw the HammerHead perform the shakedown flight over the Mediterranean Sea “at a significant range of speed and altitude”, with a primary objective to conduct a first check of the air vehicle and ground control station.
The Italian air force and ministry of defence are supporting the HammerHead development programme.
flightglobal

Piaggio Tests Hammerhead Flight Modes

Piaggio Aero has furthered the flight test regime of its medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) derivative of the P.180 Avanti.
Flight trials of the aircraft are continuing in Sicily using the first prototype P.1HH Hammerhead demonstrator that made its first flight in November 2013.
According to Piaggio, the company — which is working with Selex ES — has “validated and fine-tuned” the control laws, including augmented modes, flight envelope protection and automatic flight. Automatic management of ground run during takeoff and landing also has been added.
aviationweek

Piaggio P.1HH Hammerhead UAV Conducts Successful Test Flight

The successful test flight of the Piaggio Aero P.1HH Hammerhead UAV has been welcomed by the Italian Air Force as it looks to intensify its maritime surveillance operations.
The test flight took place at Sicily’s Trapani air base on Nov. 14, according to Piaggio Aero.
The Hammerhead features two pusher propellers and canards on the nose. It offers a 15.5-meter wing span, maximum takeoff weight of 6,146 kilograms and will fly to 45,000 feet with 16 hours endurance, with the company claiming it can get to a target faster and stay on target longer than rivals.
Hammerhead is expected to reach full operational capability by the en of 2014.
defensenews

Piaggio Reveals Unmanned Avanti

Italian business aircraft manufacturer Piaggio and Selex Electronic Systems are working together to produce an unmanned variant of the P-180 Avanti executive turboprop aircraft.
Named P.1HH Hammerhead, the new variant of the Avanti has been extensively modified for its UAS role. According to Piaggio the new version will be capable of 16 hours of operation carrying a range of payloads including Sigint and Elint packages as well as being able to conduct border and maritime surveillance and electronic warfare. Weapons and other external stores could also be fitted to pylons attached to the forward fuselage. The aircraft has been developed to capture part of the medium altitude, long endurance (MALE) market against aircraft such as the MQ-9 Reaper or BAE Systems Mantis.

Anthony Osborne-aviationweek