US looks to furnish Yemen with new observation aircraft, probably Seabird Seeker

The US government is looking to equip Yemen with 25 light observation aircraft for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) work, it was revealed on 14 November.

A request for information (RfI) issued by the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) calls for a light aircraft for the ISR role that will also be capable of providing in-country pilot training.

In a list of requirements, NAVAIR has set out some very specific criteria for the aircraft it is looking to field. These criteria state that it must be a commercial off-the-shelf pusher-propeller piston-engine aircraft of high-wing monoplane and tail dragger design. It should have side-by-side seating for two crew members, must be capable of operating out of austere locations, and should be sea transportable in a 40-ft ISO shipping container.