Orbital ATK to provide Cessna AC-208 Combat Caravan gunship aircraft to Lebanese Air Force

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World Aviation Defense & Security News - Lebanon
 
 
Orbital ATK to provide Cessna AC-208 Combat Caravan gunship aircraft to Lebanese Air Force
 
Orbital ATK, Inc., a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, has received a U.S. Department of Defense Foreign Military Sale contract to modify existing Cessna C-208B Caravan Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft for the Lebanese Air Force, the US company announced on March 12, 2015.
     
Orbital ATK, Inc., a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, has received a U.S. Department of Defense Foreign Military Sale contract to modify existing Cessna C-208B Caravan Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft for the Lebanese Air Force, the US company announced on March 12, 2015.
Lebanon Air Force's futur Cessna AC-208 Combat Caravan will have strike capability by utilizing AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles
     
Orbital ATK originally incorporated electro-optical sensor, communications and aircraft self-protection equipment into the aircraft and will now add strike capability utilizing Hellfire missiles. Following aircraft modification, Orbital ATK will provide contractor logistics support for one year.

Orbital ATK's modified Caravan has a proven track record of reliability, affordability and versatility,” said Bill Kasting, vice president and general manager of Orbital ATK's Defense Electronic Systems division of the Defense Systems Group. “To date, the operational readiness of Orbital ATK’s modified C-208 aircraft continues to be outstanding and we have successfully supported international customers for more than four years since the initial fielding of the system.

The gunship capability package is part of Orbital ATK's Special Mission Aircraft product portfolio, which provides affordable, responsive and advanced capabilities to customer-preferred platforms, including a roll-on, roll-off palletized approach. Orbital ATK’s expertise includes outfitting various aircraft -- including the Alenia C-27J, CASA CN-235/295, Lockheed C-130, Bombardier Dash-8, Hawker Beechcraft King Air, Cessna Caravan and others -- with integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and weapons employment capabilities.

Orbital ATK’s solution offers networked observation and over-watch, border security and counterinsurgency capabilities that is low-cost and highly reliable and requires minimal personnel and facilities to operate and maintain.

Orbital ATK’s Defense Group is an industry leader in providing innovative and affordable ammunition, precision and strike weapons, electronic warfare systems, and missile components across air-, sea-, and land-based systems.