AFM award contract for maritime patrol aircraft

A historic aviation milestone today for the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM): the signing of the contract for the provision of a new maritime patrol aircraft, funded from the 2009 External Borders Fund (EBF).

This is the third contract signing utilising funding from the E.U.'s EBF framework. The project is co-financed with 75% of the funds being sourced from the EBF and remaining 25% being allocated from the Maltese Government. The global sum allocated to this project was that of €9.696 million.

The new AFM-operated aircraft will perform a major role in the protection of the Southern external borders of the E.U., through missions which include detection, identification and coordination operations. The Maltese islands are at a critical location in the Mediterranean Sea to perform this role. In a secondary role, the aircraft will perform Search and Rescue (SAR) service in the Mediterranean Sea.

A total of six international companies responded to the call for a competitive E.U. tender, all submitting their bids within the allocated timeframe. All bidders were European companies. Of the six bidders only two were found to be technical compliant to AFM requirements. One of the two, Aerodata AG, was selected to supply the AFM with a complete integrated system, training and the provision of a service and support package.

Aerodata has teemed up with Hawker Beechcraft Corporation as the provider of the fixed wing aircraft. Aerodata, as the prime contractor for this program, will handle the complete process chain to provide a fully equipped new KingAir B200 aircraft (plus one optional).

The specialised mission system equipment, sourced from Europe and America, integrates a Telephonics RDR 1700B 360° belly mounted search radar, a Wescam MX 15i Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) system, SAR direction finder plus a number of other sensors and communication equipment. The mission system handles all sensors and selects data to be provided through a high speed INMARSAT data link with a bandwidth of 128 kBit/s to the coordination center on the ground.

The development of the solution and the integration of these systems as offered by Aerodata clearly reflects their strength as experts in the aviation industry. Undoubtedly, through the new asset, the AFM will be at the forefront when participating in joint border control operations, and substantially enhance its contribution to the E.U. agency FRONTEX's activities.

As prime contractor, Aerodata will also design all modifications to the KingAir B200 aircraft to achieve an EASA STC. Furthermore, Aerodata will modify the aircraft at its facility at Braunschweig airport. As a supplement to the electronic equipment on the aircraft, bubble windows and a drop hatch will be fitted to achieve high performance for the SAR mission.

Recently, Aerodata has been approved as Service Center for all KingAir models by Hawker Beechcraft. Thus, Aerodata as a prime contractor is able to provide all aircraft and mission system warranty and maintenance work. In addition, Aerodata will provide training for pilots, aircraft mechanics and mission systems operators.

(AFM Press Release)