Piaggio Aero Industries presented its first P166 DP1 maritime patroller to the staff of Italy’s Guardia di Finanza (financial police) during a ceremony here this week. The DP1 is the result of a midlife update program for the P166 DL3, developed by Piaggio with the support of the ministry of industries and the Guardia di Finanza.

The DP1 pusher turboprop uses the new Pratt & Whitney PT6A-121 and a new electronic component that includes the SUR surveillance system from Galileo Avionica. The DP1 conversion promises increased power, 15,000 hours of operational life and lower maintenance costs. The Guardia di Finanza now flies 32 P166s, all of which it plans to convert to DP1 version