Daher-Socata is in discussions with two potential customers for a new multimission derivative of its high-speed TBM 850 turboprop, which is being shown with a range of sensor options for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) tasks.

The demonstrator aircraft on static display has an electro-optical/infrared sensor turret installed beneath its rear fuselage, with this linked to an onboard operator's console. Current options include the FLIR Systems Star Safire 380 HD and L-3 Wescam's MX-10 and MX-15 systems, and the company is also now offering to add the Thales I-Master sensor under the forward fuselage.

Weighing 30kg (66lb), the latter provides synthetic aperture radar and ground moving target indication imagery to support the monitoring of ground vehicle movements. The sensor's output will be integrated with the same console already certificated for use in the aircraft.

"We have two very serious prospects at this time to buy the aircraft with the I-Master and MX-15 combination," says Pierre Garcia, Daher-Socata's multimission aircraft development and sales manager. These discussions involve undisclosed nations in Africa and Europe, he adds.

Garcia cites the TBM 850's 6h flight endurance and 320kt (590km/h) cruise speed as discriminators for the manned ISR role, along with the type's per-hour operating cost of around $700. Acquiring and equipping the aircraft for multimission tasks could be possible for roughly $5 million, depending on the sensor equipment selected as part of the package, he adds.

Daher-Socata says it has already delivered 40 TBM 850 special mission aircraft to military and other operators around the world.

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Source: Flight Daily News

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