Sat, Jun 21, 2003
In response to growing
homeland security concerns around the world, Raytheon Aircraft says
that they are boosting the capabilities of their special
mission Beechcraft King Air 350 to increase its mission endurance
and accommodate a wider range of surveillance and reconnaissance
equipment. The enhanced King Air 350 will allow for a standardized
belly mounted radome for surveillance radars, provisions for fixed
or retractable forward infrared radars, observation windows, as
well as increased fuel provisions. These enhancements provide for
an affordable and mission ready aircraft.
The aircraft modifications will
increase the 350's weights to accommodate the new features. The
increases are:
- Ramp weight from 15,100 lbs. to 16,600 lbs.,
- Takeoff weight from 15,000 lbs. to 16,500 lbs.,
- Zero fuel weight from 12,500 lbs. to 13,000 lbs.,
- Landing weight from 15,000 lbs. to 16,500 lbs.
Along with special wing fuel lockers, the modifications will
increase the King Air 350's mission endurance to seven hours.
"The King Air is used in special mission capacities around the
world because of its combination of low operating costs and high
performance," said Sherry Grady, Vice President - Government
Business at Raytheon Aircraft. "Many of our customers have
requested this enhanced version of the 350 to affordably meet their
homeland security needs in border patrol and maritime
surveillance."
Raytheon Aircraft teamed with
Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems to design accommodations for
the HISAR and SeaVue reconnaissance systems. HISAR integrates a
broad range of off-the-shelf subsystems to structure a solution
tailored to meet customers' needs, including sensors and ground
station, as well as a complete support package. SeaVue radars are
lightweight, high-performance surveillance systems designed to
detect small maritime targets in high seas and provide superior sea
search mode performance.
"This effort provides a true cross-company approach to meeting
our customers' needs," said Grady. "We worked closely with our
teammates at Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems to develop a
platform based on customer input, and utilizing the highly regarded
products from each company."
The enhanced King Air 350 special mission aircraft will be
available for customer deliveries in the first half of 2004.
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