ST. LOUIS, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- An enhanced airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft for-all weather, day-night operations is being developed for the Army by Boeing.
The financial value of the award was not disclosed. Boeing, however, said the initial contract covers the engineering and manufacturing development of four aircraft, with options for two additional aircraft, six low-rate initial production aircraft, and interim contractor logistics support.
The total performance of the contract, if all options are exercised, is 42 months.
"The Boeing team is honored to have been selected for the EMARSS contract," said Darryl Davis, president of Boeing Phantom Works. "We believe our technical approach, combined with our previous airborne sensor and communication systems integration experience provides strong value to the Army and Department of Defense."
Boeing said its EMARSS will consist of a commercial derivative aircraft, the Hawker Beechcraft King Air 350, equipped with an electro-optic and infrared full-motion video sensor, a communications intelligence collection system and an aerial precision guidance system.
It will also feature line-of-sight tactical and beyond line-of-sight communications suites, two operator workstations, and a self-protection suite.
