iscover
Boeing’s Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) demonstrator has made its first flight from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport in Canada.
Developed in conjunction with Canada’s Field Aviation, the MSA is based on a Bombardier Challenger 605 business jet airframe and has been developed as a low-risk and cost-effective maritime surveillance platform for search and rescue, anti-piracy, and coastal and border security missions. The MSA demonstrator aircraft uses a refurbished Challenger 604 airframe.
“We accomplished everything we set out to achieve,” Field Aviation pilot Craig Tylski said in a statement. “The aerodynamic performance was right on the money and even with the additional aerodynamic shapes, such as the radome, the demonstrator performed like a normal aircraft. The control and handling were excellent.”
Boeing says the MSA uses technologies developed for the larger 737-based P-8A Poseidon, of which the USN plans to acquire 117 and Australia has approved the acquisition of up to 12. It is equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, an electro/optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor, electronic support measures, a communications intelligence sensor, and a maritime automated identification system (AIS).
Dane
says:Why not purchase a few of these to augment the P-8?
australianaviation.com.au
says:Because it’s a separate type, plus we’re probably getting Tritons to augment the P-8.
Cheers
Andrew
Darwinite
says:Even though they are a military aircraft, they would be great to replace the Cobham/Coast Watch Dash-8s with.
Mark
says:Are we getting Tritons? I’m sure that’s not locked in. These could be an alternative platform. It can operate from smaller fields. We have great diverity in lift platforms, so why not.