Friday, May 29, 2015

Boeing Bombardier Challenger MSA Demonstrator goes on the road

N614BA Aircraft Registration ✈ FlightAware
Boeing MSA Demonstrator Set For Flight Tests
| Defense content from Aviation Week

Boeing - Bkgd_MSA.pdf
 MSA goes on the road [CAN2015D2] - IHS Jane's 360
Having developed the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft as a P-3 replacement for the US Navy, based on the Boeing 737 airliner, Boeing identified a potential requirement for a smaller, cheaper MSA. Drawing on its experience with the P-8, and leveraging the technology developed for it, Boeing devised an integrated, open-architecture mission system that could be tailored to meet customer requirements.
Without the need to carry anti-submarine equipment and anti-surface warfare weapons, the system could be installed in a smaller aircraft than the Boeing 737. After a thorough evaluation, Boeing selected the Bombardier Challenger 605 as the preferred airframe, choosing the type for sufficient internal space, quick dash speed to operational areas, yet long endurance once on patrol.
To promote the MSA to international partners, Boeing took the decision to produce a demonstrator. A Challenger 604 (similar to the 605) was selected, and Field Aviation in Toronto was engaged to undertake the airframe and interior modification work, which included the addition of a ventral radome for a multimode search radar and a pressurised box to provide for a retractable electro-optic/infrared sensor.

Boeing Touts Challenger-based Maritime Surveillance Aircraft | Defense: Aviation International News
The MSA can be fitted with different radars for overwater or overland surveillance, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, electronic support measures (ESM), communications intelligence (Comint) and the automatic identification system (AIS). Boeing had equipped the demonstrator with
The data from sensors is displayed at three mission crew workstations–expandable to five workstations–with two 24-inch monitors in clamshell, foldable configuration that can be stowed at the sidewall. The workstation displays are interoperable and interchangeable among the operators.

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