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Content Node ID: 435151
Textron Aviation has handed over a Beechcraft King Air 360ER to the Armed Forces of Malta. The U.S. airframer delivered the aircraft to Aerodata in Braunschweig, Germany, where it will be outfitted with maritime patrol systems. It is due to be operational next year.
Malta’s small air wing is based at Malta International Airport at the former RAF base at Luqa. The primary roles are support of army forces, maritime surveillance, border control, search and rescue, and law enforcement. The current fleet comprises three Leonardo AW139 helicopters (with another on order), an aging Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander, and three King Air 200s.
The latter have been in service since 2011 and were similarly tailored for maritime surveillance by Aerodata before service entry, including installation of a Telephonics RDR-1700B search radar. One of them was exhibited at the 2012 Farnborough Airshow.
Powered by PT6A-60A engines and outfitted with Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion avionics, the King Air 360ER offers improved surveillance capabilities and mission range/endurance over its predecessor. The extra capacity it brings to the air wing will aid Malta at a time when people-smuggling across the Mediterranean is at a high level.