Boeing Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) showcased for the first time at Farnborough 2014

: Posted On Tuesday, 15 July 2014 23:34

Naval Defense Industry News - USA

Boeing Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) showcased for the first time at Farnborough 2014

Boeing is showcasing its Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) for the first time at the Farnborough 2014 International Airshow currently held near London in the UK. It is a fully integrated, modular, open architecture solution, built using a combination of military and off the shelf technologies. The MSA concept was first unveiled by Boeing at the previous edition of Farnborough in 2012.

Boeing Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) at Farnborough 2014

In February 2014, Boeing with its teammate Field Aviation conducted a successful testing during a four-hour flight from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. Field Aviation modified a Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft’s structures and systems into the MSA configuration. Boeing achieved first flight of the MSA demonstrator on an accelerated schedule due to rapid prototyping and lean manufacturing techniques by Boeing Phantom Works, the company’s advanced technology organization, working closely with industry teammates.

Boeing has selected the Challenger 605 business jet as the MSA platform (as seen at Farnborough 2014) and will leverage Field Aviation's engineering and modification experience with the Challenger family of aircraft to modify the jet.

MSA uses proven technologies developed for Boeing's P-8A Poseidon program to provide multi-mission surveillance capabilities. The baseline configuration features a Selex ES Seaspray 7300 Active Electronically Scanned Array multi-mode radar, a FLIR Star Safire 380 Electro/Optical/Infrared sensor, Electronic Support Measures, a Communications Intelligence sensor and Automated Identification System.

Fitted with advanced sensors and mission systems, Boeing's MSA was designed for maritime surveillance missions but without offensive capabilities