American Eurocopter has won a follow-on contract to supply as many as 50 AS350 helicopters to the US Customs and Border Protection agency.
An initial order to build 17 AS350s next year could be followed by four, one-year increments under a package worth an estimated $150 million, according to American Eurocopter. The Arlington, Texas-based subsidiary of the European manufacturer is already supplying the agency with 48 AS350s and 20 EC120 light helicopters.
Separately, Alliant Techsystems will retrofit three additional maritime patrol aircraft for the agency with a proprietary intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system. A $78 million contract announced on 23 July requires ATK to install a system that includes the L-3 Wescam MX-15 electro-optical camera and the Raytheon SeaVue radar. An ATK mission systems suite integrates both sensors into the platform.
The aircraft include a mix of Bombardier Dash 8 Q200s and Q300s and represent the agency's fifth, sixth and seventh aircraft to be retrofitted by ATK, which in 2004 acquired Fort Worth-based Mission Research, which had been performing the same work for the Customs agency.
"The technology ATK developed for border patrol missions is attracting significant interest from international customers who are looking for affordable and effective ways to introduce ISR into their own border security challenges," says Bill Kasting, vice-president of ATK's integrated systems division.
Source: Flight International
