King Air 350ER ISR for Kuwait


On 21 February, the US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Kuwait of King Air 350ER Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft for an estimated cost of $259 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible imminent sale.


King Air 350ER ISR for Kuwait Kuwait will get its first ISR fleet thanks to four King Air 350ERs (Picture source: Beechcraft/Textron Aviation)


The Government of Kuwait has requested a possible sale of four King Air 350ER Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft with enhanced PT6A-67A engines and one engine spare; four AN/AAQ-35 Wescam MX-15HDi Electro-Optical & Infrared Imaging Sensor Turret; four Selex Seaspray 7500E Active Electronically Scanned Array Radars (AESA); AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning Systems (MWS); AN/ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispenser Systems; secure communications, cryptographic, and precision navigation equipment; Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Systems; aircraft modification and integration for ISR mission systems; ground data processing systems and support equipment; spares and repair parts; support and test equipment; simulators, training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support.

Additionally, one of the four aircraft will be further modified to accommodate VIP/senior leadership personnel for transport and Med Evac capability or command and control, and other related elements of logistical support. The estimated total case value is $259 million.

The proposed sale will enable Kuwait to gather its own airborne ISR data thanks to its first dedicated airborne ISR fleet.

The principal contractor will be Sierra Nevada Corporation, Hagerstown, MD. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the long-term assignment of any additional U.S. Government representatives to Kuwait. There will be U.S. contractor field representatives relocating to Kuwait in order provide day-to-day maintenance and logistics support.