In response to growing homeland security concerns around the world, Raytheon Aircraft says that they are boosting the capabilities of their special mission Beechcraft King Air 350 to increase its mission endurance and accommodate a wider range of surveillance and reconnaissance equipment. The enhanced King Air 350 will allow for a standardized belly mounted radome for surveillance radars, provisions for fixed or retractable forward infrared radars, observation windows, as well as increased fuel provisions. These enhancements provide for an affordable and mission ready aircraft.

The aircraft modifications will increase the 350's weights to accommodate the new features. The increases are:

• Ramp weight from 15,100 lbs. to 16,600 lbs.,
• Takeoff weight from 15,000 lbs. to 16,500 lbs.,
• Zero fuel weight from 12,500 lbs. to 13,000 lbs.,
• Landing weight from 15,000 lbs. to 16,500 lbs.

Along with special wing fuel lockers, the modifications will increase the King Air 350's mission endurance to seven hours.

"The King Air is used in special mission capacities around the world because of its combination of low operating costs and high performance," said Sherry Grady, Vice President - Government Business at Raytheon Aircraft. "Many of our customers have requested this enhanced version of the 350 to affordably meet their homeland security needs in border patrol and maritime surveillance."

Raytheon Aircraft teamed with Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems to design accommodations for the HISAR and SeaVue reconnaissance systems. HISAR integrates a broad range of off-the-shelf subsystems to structure a solution tailored to meet customers' needs, including sensors and ground station, as well as a complete support package. SeaVue radars are lightweight, high-performance surveillance systems designed to detect small maritime targets in high seas and provide superior sea search mode performance.

"This effort provides a true cross-company approach to meeting our customers' needs," said Grady. "We worked closely with our teammates at Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems to develop a platform based on customer input, and utilizing the highly regarded products from each company."

The enhanced King Air 350 special mission aircraft will be available for customer deliveries in the first half of 2004.

FMI: www.hisariswatching.com, www.raytheon.com