The strategic potential and tactical utility of an airborne platform to provide real time tactical picture at sea had been realised long ago by the maritime strategists. The two World Wars witnessed many revolutionary concepts employed in the maritime domain to extract full potential of reconnaissance and surveillance at sea over a sustained period. During World War II through ingenious innovations, commercial airliners and long-range bombers were modified as maritime patrol aircraft. Great Britain was the first to introduce longrange aircraft to patrol the Mid-Atlantic Gap that existed and posed severe vulnerability to the convoy movement through the region. The American bomber Consolidated B-24, Liberator was employed for patrolling the areas between Iceland and Greenland as well as to attack the German submarines.

Post-World War II, there was renewed effort to identify platforms that were less expensive and offered greater flexibility in modifying the aircraft for patrol and reconnaissance missions. The commercial airliners designed for civil aviation role fitted the bill extremely well as these had longer operating ranges and endurance as compared to most wartime bombers. The 1950s vintage jet-powered bombers did not have the endurance needed for long duration, over-water flights. More importantly, these did not have the low loitering speed necessary for anti-submarine operations.

Development of Maritime Reconnaissance and Patrol Aircraft

Over the years, importance of roles and missions which can be assigned to maritime patrol aircraft began to diversify. Whilst it retained its original classical role of deployment for anti-submarine warfare missions, many other missions were identified and added to make the platform more versatile to operate as the probing ‘Eye in the Sky’. Commanders at sea began to look up to the maritime patrol aircraft as a powerful instrument of command, control, communication and intelligence (C3I). Operations planners ashore began to rely on the platform as real time data link provider for effective deployment of the fleet in an evolving tactical situation.

While the range and endurance of the aircraft remained the static tenet, its mission profiles varied depending upon threat perceptions and security concerns of a nation. This led to classification of the maritime reconnaissance and patrol aircraft into two broad categories of long-range and mediumrange platforms. The development of maritime reconnaissance and patrol aircraft in these two broad categories has further witnessed multiplicity of missions added to its primary roles. Nations with long coastlines and widely dispersed offshore assets have begun to rely on this aviation asset as a cost-effective security solution. Consequent upon research and development efforts spanning over several decades, the maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft have undergone comprehensive and holistic changes in its roles and mission profiles. Some of the leading aircraft operating today are profiled in the succeeding paragraphs.

An asset to any naval force on account of its multi-role capabilities, the P-8A Poseidon long-range multi-mission maritime aircraft was developed by Boeing for the US Navy. The aircraft is capable of performing maritime patrol, antisubmarine and anti-surface warfare, as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. It is based on Boeing’s Next-Generation 737-800. The Indian Navy also operates a P-8A re-designated as P-8I. The P-8A made its first flight in April 2009. It is equipped with Northrop Grumman infrared countermeasures and electronic support measures, Raytheon AN/APY-10 radar and MK 54 light weight torpedo, GE Aviation flight management system and air-to-surface and anti-ship missiles. The aircraft flies at a speed of 789 kmph. Its power plant consists of two CFM56-7B engines, each developing 27,000 lb of thrust. Additional fuel tanks give the aircraft a range of 2,222 km with mission endurance of four hours on station.

The P-3 Orion is a long-range maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) with multi-mission capabilities. Its 16-hour fly-time and high ferry range of 8,944 km makes it the top MPA in the world. The aircraft was developed by Lockheed Martin principally for the US Navy. The aircraft can undertake a variety of missions such as maritime or over-land patrol, anti-submarine warfare, antipiracy, anti-terrorism, drug interdiction and prevention of illegal immigration. The aircraft can be equipped with infrared and electro-optical (EO) sensors, as well as special imaging radar to detect objects at long ranges. Its large internal weapons bay and ten external hard-points can house a range of weapons. Four Allison T56-A-14 engines provide the P-3 Orion a longrange cruise speed of 350 kt at 25,000 ft.

The CN-235 MPA is a multi-role maritime patrol aircraft deployed in maritime surveillance and homeland security missions. It also serves as basis for the HC-144A Ocean Sentry surveillance aircraft used by the US Coast Guard. The CN-235MPA incorporates a fully integrated tactical system (FITS) which can be integrated with variety of mission sensors for conducting complex surveillance missions. The aircraft features six hardpoints to carry anti-ship missiles or torpedoes.

Alenia Aermacchi developed the maritime patrol aircraft ATR-42 MP Surveyor based on the ATR-42 short-haul regional airliner. The aircraft has a range of 3,741 km and can conduct non-stop patrols for up to 11 hours. It integrates advanced tactical observation system (ATOS) mission management system. The state-ofthe-art mission system, along with onboard sensors, enables the aircraft to undertake a variety of missions such as identification and tracking of vessels, maritime and coastal surveillance, search and rescue (SAR) and pollution detection missions.

The Saab 2000 MPA is a multi-mission maritime surveillance aircraft capable of conducting ISR, maritime surveillance and reconnaissance (MSAR), maritime border security and antisurface warfare missions. High dash speed and long endurance capabilities make the Saab 2000 MPA an ideal maritime patrol aircraft. The Saab 2000 MPA comes with an advanced sensor and C4I package consisting of 360° rotating maritime surveillance radar, multi-mode electro-optical sensor, automatic identification system (AIS), identify friend or foe (IFF), electronic support measures (ESM), self-protection system (SPS), SATCOM and data link.

The C-295 MPA is a versatile maritime patrol aircraft developed by EADS CASA, now Airbus Military. The aircraft can be deployed in maritime patrol, EEZ surveillance, SAR and antisubmarine and anti-surface warfare missions. Onboard fully integrated tactical system integrates the C-295 MPA aircraft navigation and communications systems, radar, EO/IR turret, acoustic system, magnetic anomaly detector (MAD), AIS, IFF interrogator, ESM/electronic intelligence, weapon system and a sea pollution detection system. The under-wing stations of C-295 MPA can carry anti-ship missiles and torpedoes for striking surface and sub-surface targets. The aircraft can patrol a range of 1,800 nm (3,333 km) and depending on the configuration, can remain airborne for more than eight hours.

The ATR-72 Maritime Patrol (MP) aircraft, based on the ATR-72-600 platform, was developed by Alenia Aermacchi. The aircraft is primarily deployed in surveillance and reconnaissance, maritime patrol and SAR missions. The ATR-72 MP can operate in extreme temperatures, altitudes and varied environmental conditions. It is equipped with Selex Galileo ATOS Mission System, which is interfaced with onboard sensors and equipment to perform electronic surveillance, optical reconnaissance, Vessel identification and pollution detection. The aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M turboprops. Each engine driving a six-bladed, variable-pitch propeller provides a maximum cruise speed of 248 kt and an endurance of ten hours.

EMB-145 MP is a new-generation multirole aircraft produced by Embraer to meet the challenging requirements of maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare. Derived from ERJ-145 platform, the aircraft can be configured for maritime patrol and anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions. Its underwing hard-points can carry conventional and smart weapons. The aircraft is powered by two AE3007 turbofan engines, each generating a maximum thrust of 7,420 lb. The maximum speed is about Mach 0.78 and range is about 3,020 km.

The Falcon 900 MPA is a derivative of the Falcon 900 DX business jet. The Falcon 900 MPA can be employed for a wide variety of missions including anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, ISR, EEZ surveillance, surveillance of sea lanes of communication (SLOC), SAR, coastal security and environmental protection missions. The advanced mission suite integrates 360° rotating maritime surveillance radar, retractable forward looking infrared system (FLIR), ESM suite, acoustic system with sonobuoys launcher, self-protection system and a complete communications suite. The power-plant of the Falcon 900 MPA includes three Honeywell TFE-731-60 engines equipped with digital electronic engine computer (DEEC). The aircraft has a cruise speed of Mach 0.85 and range of 1,200 km.

Key Special Mission Solutions

Beechcraft’s King Air 350 is a special mission version surveillance aircraft fitted with cameras. Its maritime patrol version is capable of carrying up to 1,300 kg mission equipment and is fitted with air and sea search radar and a forward-looking infrared. Raytheon has developed a new extended-range special mission variant, the King Air 350ER. The 350ER has additional nacelle fuel tanks, heavy-weight landing gear and a maximum take-off weight increased to 7,480 kg. This gives the aircraft an extended range of 4,260 km (2,300 nm) and eight-hour endurance.

The King Air 350ER is a versatile platform designed for special missions such as intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and transport. The special mission aircraft are fitted with the L3 Wescam MX-15 electro-optic/infrared system, a General Atomics Lynx synthetic aperture radar, inverse synthetic aperture radar (SAR/ISAR), AN/AAR-47 missile warning system and AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispensing system. Selex has delivered and integrated its Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance system onto Hawker Beechcraft special mission Extended Range, King Air 350 maritime patrol aircraft. Equipped with a retractable electro-optical system and ventral radome, the aircraft was integrated with an ATOS system that consists of electro- optics, a laser illuminator and the T200 Gabbiano radar to provide 360° coverage. Beechcraft SKA 350ER aircraft also features high-density seating to support military transport missions and two medical sleds for air ambulance missions.

Reportedly, Beechcraft is planning to integrate anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability to the long list of capabilities offered by its King Air 350ER in the special missions market. Integration of ASW-lite concept will equip King Air 350ER a capability of combating the increasing numbers of mini-submarines used by drug smugglers and the military. The addition of ASW capabilities would add to already strong levels of interest for the King Air in the maritime role. Expectedly, a move into the bottom end of the ASW sector could provide Beechcraft with further opportunities to build a Special Missions aircraft.