The ATR 42MP can perform a wide range of specialised missions including the patrol of exclusive economic zones (EEZ), Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR), Command and Control (C2), monitoring of territorial waters, and anti-pollution surveillance, as well as the monitoring of migration flows. It can be reconfigured easily to transport people and materials, as well as for airdropping paratroopers and emergency kits, and for medical and humanitarian evacuations.

The aircraft is equipped with a suite of sensors including a multi-mode radar, an Electro-Optical Sensor Turret (EOST) with colour and monochrome cameras, an Automatic Identification System (AIS), a Direction Finder (DF) and video recording equipment. The ATR 42MP also features two bubble windows and two external pylons at the front of the fuselage, where a high-intensity searchlight or other equipment can be housed.

The Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance System (ATOS), which is complemented by sophisticated navigation and communication systems, is based on two stations managed by flight operators, which display images provided by the search sensors and navigation data on high-resolution colour monitors. With its open modular architecture, ATOS enables the entire surveillance system to be customised and integrated with Electronic Support Measures (ESM) or other subsystems and sensors.