EADS
North America has delivered the first of four Airbus Military CN235-300
Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) it will supply to the Mexican Navy. The
program is a foreign military sales contract managed by the U.S. Coast
Guard. The Coast Guard uses a configuration of this same twin-engine
aircraft – the HC-144A Ocean Sentry – for its own patrol,
surveillance, transport and disaster relief mission duties.
This is the first U.S. foreign military sale for the highly successful
CN235 tactical airlifter family produced by Airbus Military, a business
unit of EADS. Under the $157.6 million order, EADS North America will
also supply spares provisioning, ground support equipment and associated
training.
“This airframe is performing exceptionally in a wide range
of missions for the U.S. Coast Guard, and we’re proud to serve
our country’s national interests by supporting the Mexican Navy
with a great capability as well,” said Sean O’Keefe, EADS
North America CEO.
The new CN235-300 MPAs will further strengthen Mexico’s ability
to support the Mérida Initiative, a cooperative security arrangement
between the U.S., Mexico and Central American countries. Duties for
the new aircraft include homeland security, search and rescue, military
readiness, cargo and personnel transport, drug interdiction and maritime
environmental protection.
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