Airbus Military have offered SA two different kinds of aircraft for anti piracy missions. Airbus Military is an aerospace company and is offering SA dual-role aircraft for surveillance purposes.
Because the spread of the Somali piracy situation and the threat this has to Southern African waters, Project Saucepan has been created.
The company has offered either the CN235 model or the C295 for use for maritime surveillance purposes.
The South African Air Force is looking at a relatively small craft to fulfill this role, and is looking to getting this project off the ground as soon as possible.
Typical for this purpose is the Beechcraft King Air 350; this is said to be an excellent plane.
Two important roles that both the CN235 model and C295 carry out are transport as well as surveillance.
The CN 235 is larger than the King Air. Althought the CN 235 is not a large aircraft, can lift 5 950 kg and can reach speeds of 454 kms an hour and can reach altitudes of 7 620 kms. The aircraft can carry up to 44 people.
The aircraft is already being used for maritime purposes, servicing ten customers in eight countries, such as Spain’s Salvamento Maritimo National Search and Rescue, the Irish Corps, the Mexican Navy, the Turkish Navy as well as others.
The C 295 is even larger, and is more flexible. The C 295 is used in the Portuguese Air Force and Chilean Navy.
The nice thing is that the Airbus Military is able to assist in Piracy and Air Patrol in SA. If you need to know anything more about all things related to aviation, you have landed on the right site to find out more.
