+49 2641 3703 – 0 +49 2641 3703 – 199 info@moench-group.com

Collins Aerospace Sees Strong European Opportunities for Airborne ISR

Largest Installed Base of Any Long-Range ISR Pod

Following yesterday’s report on MON that Collins Aerospace has received a significant contract modification from the US Air Force for supply of its newest fast-jet reconnaissance pod – the MS-110 Multispectral Airborne Reconnaissance system, the company’s Regional Business Development Lead, Mission Systems, William O’Brien, reveals what he sees as a very strong demand for the system throughout Europe and with NATO partner nations.

The new IDIQ contract vehicle enables international air forces to procure the state-of-the-art MS-110 reconnaissance capability at reduced prices with significantly shorter contract to delivery schedules […] With our significant regional installed base and the IDIQ-based update option, our current customers in Eastern and Central Europe will be able to retain their existing support infrastructure and manage a time-phased in-country upgrade programme so as to avoid any interruption in this important national defence capability” he explained.

The MS-110 is the follow-on to the widely deployed DB-110 system. It offers a multi-band, true-color capability that significantly increases the intelligence value of the collected imagery with features that include features to identify camouflage and increased spatial resolution. The system provides a stand-off range capability approaching 100nm and the ability to image over 40,000sqmi/hr by both day and night. The legacy DB-110 system has the largest worldwide installed base of any long range ISR pod, with 18 customers procuring 89 pods.

Current operational platform installations are primarily on F-16s, as well as multi-intelligence aircraft such as Bombardier’s Global Express and the P-3 Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Collins has demonstrated a lightweight pod version of the system on the General Atomics MQ-9, where the sensor’s stand-off capability will help reduce the threat presented by advanced, longer range surface-to-air weapons.

F-16s will still be operated for some time in the region, with many nations using or in the process of acquiring 4th-gen fighters for reconnaissance missions and, with resurgent threats in the region, we see a growing demand for ISR solutions,” O’Brien added. The MS-110 in the fast jet pod is also compatible with the F-18 SUPER HORNET, which is under consideration in several European fighter competitions.

As a full ‘end-to-end’ system, an MS-110 program includes sophisticated mission planning computers as well the company’s SCI-Toolset suite of ground station exploitation software. A new ‘on-demand’ data link has also been added, which greatly increases the system’s utility for indications and warning missions during periods of escalating tensions or actual combat operations.

Related Posts

Publish date

03/11/2021

Sign up to our newsletter and stay up to date.

News

Air

C4ISR

Components / Systems

Cyber

Defence Business

Homeland Security

International Security

Land

Latin America (Spanish)

Logistics

Naval

Training & Simulation

Space

Special Forces

Unmanned

Publications

Contact Us

Contact Info

Mönch Verlagsgesellschaft mbH
Christine-Demmer-Straße 7
53474 Bad Neuenahr – Ahrweiler

+49 2641 3703 – 0

+49 2641 3703 - 199

Follow On

X