The U.S. Department of Defense on December 23, 2020 announced that the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Kazakhstan of three Beechcraft King Air B300ER Scorpion Aircraft with Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) Mission Systems and related equipment for an estimated cost of $128.1 million.
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U.S. Army King Air 300 MARSS with ISR equipment (Pcture source: Sierra Nevada Corp)
The Government of Kazakhstan has requested to buy 3 Raytheon AST TITAN Communications Intelligence (COMINT) Sensor Suites (2 installed, 1 spare). Also included are 2 King Air B300ER Scorpion aircraft; 3 Leonardo Osprey 30 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars (2 installed, 1 spare); 3 Wescam MX-15HDi Elector Optical Infrared Turret Electro Optical Infrared Sensors (2 installed, 1 spare); 3 Sierra Nevada Small SWAP Auto Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) Systems (2 installed, 1 spare); secure communications; fixed and transportable ground control station; ground support equipment; aircraft integration and test support; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; spare, component and repair parts; software and software support; US Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistical support services, and other related elements of program and logistical support. The estimated total cost is $128.1 million.
The principal contractor will be Sierra Nevada Corporation, Hagerstown, MD. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Kazakhstan.
The King Air B300ER is twin-turboprop aircraft produced by Beechcraft. The aircraft offers flexible, reconfigurable interiors, making them equally adept at accommodating passengers, cargo, air ambulance, or other missions.
The King Air B300ER is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A turboprop engines rated at 1,050shp at ISA +10C, each driving a Hartzell four-bladed, full-feathering, reversible, and constant speed propeller. It has retractable tricycle landing gear with dual wheels on each main unit.
