Leonardo has signed a contract to provide Seaspray 5000E Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars for two Dornier 228 multirole aircraft recently ordered by the Bangladesh Navy.
Leonardo has signed a contract with RUAG Aviation, original equipment manufacturer and type certificate holder of the Dornier 228 aircraft, to provide its Seaspray 5000E Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars for two new production model Dornier 228 multirole aircraft recently ordered by the Bangladesh Navy.
The new aircraft will be used to help monitor and protect Bangladesh’s 120,000km2 of maritime territorial area and exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The radars will be delivered in 2018.
Seaspray, which can detect small targets in rough seas, will be used by the Bangladesh Navy to conduct anti-smuggling and anti-pollution missions and for the prevention of illegal fishing and migration. Because the radar is also suited to search-and-rescue tasks, the Seaspray-equipped aircraft will also be able to help protect the lives of sailors during natural disasters. This is of particular importance to the Bangladesh Navy as the Bay of Bengal is prone to cyclones and hurricanes.
Leonardo AESA radars have been selected by a total of 30 international customers, including the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the US Navy, for the MQ-8C Fire Scout programme.