Malta moved forward with the procurement of a third maritime patrol
aircraft, to tackle the increasing number of immigrants crossing the
Mediterranean. The deal was signed between the commander of the Maltese
Armed Forces, Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi and Aerodata's President and CEO,
Hans J. Stahl. |
|
The
acquisition will be funded by the EY 2014-20 Internal Security Funds.
The platform will be a Beechcraft King Air B200 and will join the two
aircraft of this type, already in service with Malta's Armed Forces.
The new platform will be equipped with a belly-mounted radar, a forward-looking
infrared (FLIR) system, an SAR direction finder, satellite communication
and data transmission systems, and other sensors that will allow it
to carry out effectively surveillance and SAR missions.
The aircraft will be delivered in 2017 after the conclusion of the modification
works. These will be implemented at Aerodata's facilities in Braunschweige
airport, in Germany. King Air B200 are twin-engine aircraft with an
endurance of four hours. Malta's Armed Forces operate them with a crew
of two pilots, one mission systems operator and two observers.
|
Beechcraft
King Air B200 of Malta Armed Forces