Farnborough 2012: Saab launches affordable maritime surveillance aircraft

Swedish manufacturer Saab has unveiled what it describes as a "cost-effective" new multirole maritime aircraft optimised for airborne surveillance and search-and-rescue missions.

Based on its proven 340 airframe, the Saab 340 Maritime Security Aircraft (MSA) is built as standard but with an enhanced structural and system life. The refurbishment includes a total reset of the engines, the addition of an extensive sensor suite and a capable mission-management system.

Rickard Hjelmberg, Saab's vice president of marketing for airborne surveillance, told IHS Jane's that the 340 MSA is designed to meet what the company perceives is a growing requirement for an affordable surveillance aircraft able to address maritime security threats such as piracy, terrorism and trafficking.

"What we've done is taken the latest sensors on the market, together with the latest version of an Optimare mission system from Germany, and installed them in the aircraft ... to meet the current [surveillance] requirements that are out there today," he said.

The standard sensor fit includes a 360-degree Telephonics RDR-1700B X-band multimode maritime radar with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and inverse SAR modes, and a forward looking infrared (FLIR) Star Safire electro-optical/infrared turret under the rear fuselage.