BAE Systems Australia orders Tecnam MMA

BAE Systems Australia has announced it has ordered a new Tecnam MMA (Multi Mission Aircraft) from Austria's Airborne Technologies GmbH.

The Tecnam MMA is a modified version of the Tecnam P2006T Twin, which we've flight-tested here. To transform the P2006T into a special mission aircraft, Airborne Technologies added a number of modifications including additional electrical power (a separate 28V/70Amps electrical mission supply), a retractable sensor system and an integrated pilot flight guidance system/sensor operator workstation.

Already a key service provider to both Australia’s Defence and Civilian agencies, the introduction of the Tecnam MMA affords BAE Systems Australia the opportunity of further supporting specialist airborne surveillance tasks, including assisting with homeland security and law enforcement missions, as well as bush and urban fire suppression survey flights.

“BAE Systems Australia’s selection of the Tecnam MMA as its aerial surveillance platform of choice, coupled with its own range of specialist sensors, bring more cost effective and efficient offering to its well established Australian client base,” Airborne Technologies CEO Wolfgang Grumeth said.

“I’m delighted that we are able to build on the BAE Systems and Airborne Technologies partnership that we have already established with our offering of BAE Systems advance sensor technologies such as it Hyperspectral Imaging Solution.”

BAE Systems Australia already offers a bespoke range of imaging systems and has worked in close partnership with Airborne Technologies in the deployment of hyperspectral scanners in particular.

Airborne Technologies’ in-house Research and Development team have developed and certified the Tecnam MMA to meet BAE Australia’s special needs. It overcame a number of challenges to arrange for up to five state of the art, low weight and low power consuming sensors to look through one single fuselage opening in the aircraft.

The BAE Tecnam MMA is expected to enter service in spring 2012.