Boeing’s Maritime Surveillance Aircraft ready to demo
Boeing has completed baseline ground and flight testing of the Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) mission systems, clearing the way for customer demonstration flights to begin.
The MSA programme testing included scenarios to confirm performance of the Automatic Identification System, radar, Electro-Optical Infrared camera, communications radios and data links, Communications Intelligence System and the Electronic Support Measures.
David Utz, MSA demonstrator flight test manager, Boeing, said: ‘The mission systems flight test programme proved the functionality and performance of the onboard sensors and was a huge accomplishment for the MSA team.’
The aircraft completed airworthiness and certification testing in 2014.
MSA is a multi-intelligence maritime surveillance platform that draws on technology developed for Boeing’s P-8A Poseidon and the Airborne Warning and Control System Block 40/45 aircraft mission systems. It is designed to provide a high capability, low-risk intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance solution in a mid-size business jet.
The aircraft’s potential missions include anti-piracy, immigration patrols, Economic Exclusion Zone enforcement, coastal and border security and long-range search and rescue.
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