Canada cleared to buy 3 King Air 350ER ISR aircraft

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Canada of three (3) King Air 350ER (extended range) aircraft with customer unique post-modifications for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations for an estimated cost of $300 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on October 3, 2018.
The Government of Canada has requested to buy three (3) King Air 350ER (extended range) aircraft with customer unique post-modifications for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations; three (3) WESCAM MX-15D Electro-Optical & Infrared Imaging Sensors; three (3) AN/AAR-47B(V)2 Missile and Laser Warning System (MWS); three (3) AN/ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispenser Systems (CMDS); three (3) VORTEX® Dual RF Ku LOS Transceivers; three (3) COMSEC Modules (KGV-135A); two (2) APM-424(V)5 Transponder Test Sets; five (5) KIV-77 Mode 4/5 crypto applique computers for IFF; three (3) AN/APX-119 IFF Digital Civil and Military Transponders; six (6) ARC-210 Multi-mode Voice and Data Transceivers; three (3) KG-250X NSA-Certified Type 1 Inline Network Encryptors (INE); technical data; mission equipment, communication and navigation equipment, special tools and test equipment, ground support equipment, airframe and engine spare parts, publications, MWO/ECPs, technical assistance, repair and return, training; and transportation of aircraft, and other related elements of logistics and program support. Total estimated program cost is $300 million.
dsca

Modified King Airs to boost Kuwaiti defences

Kuwait has secured approval to advance a possible intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) fleet acquisition comprising four modified Beechcraft King Air 350ERs. The purchase would introduce a new capability for Kuwait, which Flight Fleets Analyzer shows as currently lacking special-mission aircraft.
If completed, the deal will lead to prime contractor Sierra Nevada modifying the twin-turboprops with mission equipment including a Leonardo Seaspray 7500E surveillance radar and L3 Wescam MX-15HDi electro-optical/infrared sensor. The aircraft would also receive a secure communications fit, missile warning receivers and countermeasures dispensers for self-protection.
flightglobal

Nigerian Air Force receiving additional Alpha Jets

The Nigerian Air Force has acquired at least two second hand Alpha Jet aircraft as it continues to expand its aerial fleet.
One of the jets was seen passing through the United Kingdom on 25 March, having travelled from the United States via Iceland. It then continued to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on its way to Nigeria.
It was flown by Air USA Inc, which specialises in military air combat readiness training and flies Hawks, Alpha Jets, MiG-29s and L-59 Super Albatroses. The Alpha Jet seen transiting the UK was cancelled from the United States register on 19 March together with a second Alpha Jet, both originally flown by the Luftwaffe before operating in the States.
The delivery status of the second aircraft is unclear. It is also not clear if the two Alpha Jets are attrition replacements or part of a larger batch being acquired by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
Air USA Alpha Jets were converted for night vision goggle (NVG) operations, according to the company, and flight certified for operational use of TER, IMER and SUU-20 bomb racks.
Nigerian Alpha Jets have been used in the ground attack role to strike Boko Haram targets and a couple have been lost on operations.
The NAF has recently reactivated a number of its Alpha Jets. A total of 24 were acquired in the 1980s but several have been lost in crashes. Apparently 11 have been made flyable again.
In addition to refurbishing some of its existing aircraft such as the Alpha Jets, L-39s, Super Pumas and C-130s, the NAF is also acquiring additional platforms. For instance, it recently inducted Gazelle helicopters, which are believed to have entered service in February this year.
Three Beechcraft King Air 350i light transport aircraft were delivered in August last year, together with two AgustaWestland AW101 VIP transport helicopters. The NAF is also acquiring six Mi-35M attack helicopters and 12 armed Mi-171Sh helicopters, which were ordered in August 2014.
defenceweb

Mexican Navy takes delivery of first of four King Air 350ER aircraft

Beechcraft , at the Farnborough International Airshow that it has delivered the first of four Beechcraft King Air 350ER aircraft ordered by the Mexican Navy.
beechcraft

Iraq to get another King Air

Iraq is to get another King Air 350ER to be delivered by 30 March 2015.
The Iraqi Air Force already operates King Air 350ERs that have been modified into intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms and one King Air 350 light transport aircraft.
janes

USAF assisting search for missing girls in Nigeria

The Air Force is flying manned MC-12W Liberty and unmanned RQ-4 Global Hawk surveillance sorties over Nigeria to assist in locating more than 200 girls kidnapped by militants.
The Nigerian government requested the flights.
On April 15, the militant group Boko Haram kidnapped the girls from their school. The group said it is open to exchanging the students for the release of terrorists imprisoned in Nigeria.
The Defense Department has sent more than 10 personnel to the country to help with the search. The troops are trained in intelligence, communications and logistics.
The Defense Department would not release the number of sorties or the specific origin of the flights “due to operational security concerns.
The department is not sharing the intelligence directly with the Nigerian government.
The MC-12W Liberty manned aircraft is a modified Hawker Beechcraft Super King Air 350 outfitted with sensors and cameras. The aircraft has seen extensive use in Afghanistan. The RQ-4 Global Hawk is the Air Force’s largest remotely piloted aircraft, and has been deployed to provide high-altitude surveillance. Global Hawks have deployed to the Middle East and flown “treaty verification” missions in the Middle East.
airforcetimes

France Eyes King Air, Upgrades for C-130

The French Air Force is eyeing the King Air for ISR missions, while France’s special operations forces are keen to fit mission packages to their Hercules airlifters.
The Air Force is studying the twin-engine Beechcraft King Air as part of its search for a light aircraft to deliver a “development of force”.
Meanwhile, France’s special operations forces are looking to add various capabilities to their 14 Lockheed Martin C-130s, such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), gunship and low-level air-drop.
France is studying bids to upgrade the C-130s’ avionics and cockpits.
The French Air Force is flying MQ-9 Reaper UAVs from Niger to back up special forces in northern Mali.
Today, the French Air Force flies two C-160 Gabriel aircraft for ISR missions..
defensenews

Iraq requests Apache helicopter purchase

Iraq’s continuing military transformation could be advanced further, through a potentially $4.8 billion deal for 24 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
“This proposed sale supports the strategic interests of the United States by providing Iraq with a critical capability to protect itself from terrorist and conventional threats, to enhance the protection of key oil infrastructure and platforms, and to reinforce Iraqi sovereignty,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency says. Its message to Congress was disclosed in a notification published on 27 January.
Expected roles for an Iraqi Apache fleet would include flying close-air support and armed reconnaissance and anti-tank warfare missions. Baghdad’s request includes 12 Northrop Grumman APG-78 Longbow fire control radars and 480 Lockheed Martin AGM-114R Hellfire air-to-surface missiles.
An Apache acquisition would come on top of the Iraqi army’s previous purchase of the Mil Mi-28 from Russia. Baghdad has signed a firm order for 12 of the type, and has previously shown interest in acquiring a further 28.
Iraq’s defence spending in the post-Saddam Hussein era has included numerous foreign military sales deals with the USA. These have included orders for Lockheed-built F-16C/D and IQ-model fighters and C-130J tactical transports, Beechcraft King Air 350 transport and reconnaissance aircraft and T-6A trainers, plus Cessna 208s in utility, reconnaissance and light-attack configurations.
flightglobal

La Fuerza Aérea Venezolana incorpora un avión Beechcraft King Air 200

La Fuerza Aérea Venezolana adquirió, un avión de transporte ligero Beechcraft King Air 200. A la aeronave se le asignó la matrícula 1112 y fue incorporada al Grupo Aéreo de Transporte Administrativo Nº 5. El avión puede aterrizar en pistas no preparadas.
El Grupo 5, tiene su sede en la base aérea Generalísimo Francisco de Miranda, Caracas. Agrupa a dos escuadrones de vuelo y en su inventario incluye aviones Cessna Cittation
500 Citation I, 550 Citation II y 750 Citation X, así como, Beechcraft King Air 200 y King Air 350.
infodefensa

La Fuerza Aérea Boliviana adquirirá aviones de transporte Falcon 50EX y King Air 250/350

La Fuerza Aérea Boliviana adquirirá un avión de transporte Dassault Falcón 50 EX y dos Beechcraft King Air modelos 250 y 350 y un King Air 200 para la Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil.
El Ministerio de Defensa de Bolivia, informó que la compra de dos King Air y un Falcón 50EX para la FAB cumplen el objetivo de garantizar la seguridad de las operaciones aéreas en Bolivia, parte de cuya flota se encuentra obsoleta.
infodefensa

US Army seeks information on small transports

The US Army has released a request for information (RFI) on potential replacements for its Beechcraft C-12 King Air and Fairchild C-26 Metroliner light transport aircraft.
The RFI requests specifics for an in-production, multi-engined aircraft for single-pilot operations. The platform should be capable of carrying up to nine passengers or 2,700lb (1,200kg) of cargo, and of operating from rough fields. The army further requests that the aircraft should cruise at no less than 275kt (500km/h).

flightglobal

RNZAF leases four King Air B200s for training and transport

New Zealand has leased four King Air B200 aircraft from Hawker Pacific New Zealand for use as trainers and transports.

learn more

Nuevo avión de patrulla marítima para Malta/AFM signs contract for new maritime patrol aircraft

Las Fuerzas Armadas de Malta han adquirido un segundo King Air B200 de patrulla marítima.
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The Armed Forces of Malta has signed a contract for the provision of a second King Air B200 maritime patrol aircraft.
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Nueva Zelanda quiere comprar pequeño avión para patrulla marítima/ New Zealand wants small MPA

En el Libro Blanco de Defensa de Nueva Zelanda, recientemente publicado, se recoge la necesidad de contar con un avión de patrulla marítima, que pueda utilizar campos no preparados, para complemento de los P-3K Orion.
Actualmente esta misión es desempeñada por cinco B200 King Air, en regimen de leasing, con renovación de contrato anual, por lo que el nuevo avión podría ser la versión militar, que opera con Estados Unidos.
airforcesmonthly
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In its Defence White Paper published earlier this month, the New Zealand government has identified the need for a “maritime patrol aircraft with short takeoff and landing and sufficient range” to complement it fleet of P-3K Orions.
The White Paper identified a “number of low-end regional surveillance tasks (for both defence and other agencies)” in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone and the South Pacific and to maximise the new aircraft’s cost-effectiveness it would also be expected to perform a “transport and multi-engine flying training and consolidation function”. This is currently provided by five leased B200 King Airs, but the original contract expired in April 2008 and is being renewed on a year-by-year basis.
airforcesmonthly

El US Army comprará ocho King Air mas de Vigilancia/US Army opens bidding for King Air 350ER contract

El US Army ha iniciado la solicitud de ofertas por ocho Beechcraft King Air 350ER mas modificados para servir como avión de interligencia.
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The US Army has opened bidding for a contract to deliver up to an initial eight Beechcraft King Air 350ERs modified into intelligence aircraft.
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Roll Out del nuevo King Air de las Fuerzas Armadas de Malta/New AF Malta patrol aircraft rolled out

Se ha producido el roll-out del nuevo Hawker Beechcraft King Air de patrulla marítima para las Fuerzas Armadas de Malta. El avión realizará una serie de pruebas antes de su vuelo a Alemanid, donde se le dotará con un radar de vigilancia y otros equipos antes de su entrega a Malta en Febrero de 2011.
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The new maritime patrol aircraft of the Armed Forces of Malta was rolled out at Hawker Beechcraft's facilities in Wichita, Kansas, USA last week.
The aircraft, serial numbered BB2016, is now undergoing flight and systems testing by the company before being flown to Germany.
Once there, Aerodata AG in Braunschweig will fit the aircraft with the Telephonics Corporation's RDR-1700B maritime surveillance and imaging radar, besides other mission related electronics before being delivered to the AFM's Air Wing early in February next year.
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Los Marines de Estados Unidos reciben primer UC-12 King Air de transporte/ US Marines receive their first new UC-12W King Air 350 cargo aircraft.

A pesar del gran número de aviones con alta tecnología desplegados en los teatros de operaciones por Estados Unidos, el Hawker Beechcraft King Air 350 turbohélice, continua demostrando ser una opción segura y económicia como avión de gran resistencia para transporte ligero a zonas remotas, vigilancia y ataque. La fuerza aérea de Iraq realizaó un pedido y los US Marines pidieron 6 en Julio de 2008. La USAF y el US Army están recibiendo nuevas unidades y modernizando las ya existentes para cumplir un amplio espectro de cometidos.
www.defenseindustrydaily.com
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Despite all of the high-tech fighter hours flown in theater, Hawker Beechcraft’s twin-propeller King Air 350 continues to gain traction as an affordable, long-endurance option for light cargo delivery in remote areas – and effective manned battlefield surveillance and attack. Iraq’s Air Force was the first to order them, and an initial 6-plane order from the US Marines/Navy followed in July 2008.
www.defenseindustrydaily.com

Nueva Unidad de MC-12 (King Air) activada en Afganistán/New MC-12 Unit Activated at Kandahar Airfield

La USAF ha activado un nuevo escuadrón de MC-12 King Air en Kandahar, Afganistán, en una ceremonia celebrada el 1 de mayo. Se trata del 361 Escuadrón Expedicionario de Reconocimiento. Este escuadrón se ha reactivado varias veces en la historia desde 1943, en la Segunda Guerra Mundial cuando los miembros de la unidad volaron los B-17 y B-24. Más tarde, fue reactivadao durante la guerra de Vietnam, volando CE-47.
El MC-12, se ha revelado como un excelente avión contra insurgencia y está prestando valiosos servicios en Afganistán.
www.defencetalk.com
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Officials activated the Air Force's newest MC-12 Liberty squadron in a ceremony here May 1. The 361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron has been reactivated many times in the squadron's fairly unique history, said Col. John A. Cherrey, the commander of the 451st Expeditionary Operations Group and host of the ceremony."It started in 1943 in World War II when the members of the unit flew B-17 (Flying Fortresses) and B-24 (Liberators)," he said. "Later, they were reactivated during Vietnam when they flew EC-47s and did a lot of work with a special operations wing back then. In 2002, the unit was reactivated again, flying other aircraft."The commander of the newly-activated squadron, Lt. Col. Darren Halford, shared his enthusiasm with the 80-member unit."This is a tremendous team perfectly suited for the challenges ahead," Colonel Halford said."The MC-12 is a critical capability, fielded at a critical time," he said. "Your actions will drastically improve joint and combined counterinsurgency capabilities, assist Afghanistan with defeating the insurgency, and ultimately save American and coalition lives."
www.defencetalk.com

Malasia utiliza el King Air como avión de vigilancia/Malaysia put faith in King Airs

Malasia está utilizando el Beechcraft King Air aircraft para cubrir sus necesidades de vigilancia. La fuerza aérea dispone de cuatro King Air, uno de ellos modernizado con radar Thales, estando previsto modernizar uno mas. La policía de Malasia dsipone de tres King Air recientemente adquiridos y se espera recibir dos mas con equipamiento avanzado como radar con cobertura 360° y FLIR.
Malasia siempre ha manifestado sus intenciones para adquirir aviones AEW como el Northrop Grumman E-2D y el Saab 2000 Erieye, pero esto no ha sido posible debido a restricciones presupuestarias.
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Malaysia is relying on Beechcraft King Air aircraft to fulfil its immediate needs for surveillance aircraft.
The air force has four King Airs, that it bought in 1994, and one has just been upgraded with Thales radar, say well-placed industry sources. Airod was responsible for the upgrade programme, and is to upgrade one more of the air force's King Airs with Thales radar. Besides the air force, Malaysia's police force recently took delivery of three King Airs and the final two on order will be fitted with more advanced equipment, says one industry source. These two King Airs will have 360° radar as well as FLIR infrared with downlinks.
Malaysia has a long-term ambition to get airborne early warning aircraft and has looked at the Northrop Grumman E-2D and Saab 2000 Erieye. But budget constraints has meant it is unclear when Malaysia will have the funds to place an order.