ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Jordan has contracted ATK of the United States to modify two of the country's CASA-235 transport aircraft into special mission aircraft.
The modification designs will come from both the company and the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau.
Subject to U.S. government export licensing approval, the modified aircraft are expected to be delivered by the late spring of 2013. Terms of the contract weren't announced.
ATK's special mission aircraft offerings integrate intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors, fire control equipment and an LW30mm link-fed gun system.
These capabilities are controlled by ATK's STAR Mission System, which provides both day and night reconnaissance and fire control capabilities and the ability to acquire, monitor and track items of interest.
"Weaponized aircraft is an emerging international opportunity specifically tailored for ATK's unique capabilities," said Mike Kahn, president of ATK Missile Products Group. "Our expertise in mission systems architecture and design and aircraft integration and certification of complex subsystems positions us well for growth in this area."
ATK will install and integrate electro-optical targeting systems, a laser designator, aircraft self-protection equipment and an armaments capability that includes Hellfire laser-guided missiles, 2.75-inch rockets and a M230 link-fed 30mm chain gun.
ATK, in a news release from a defense exposition in the United Arab Emirates, said work on the aircraft will be performed in Jordan and at ATK facilities in Texas and Alabama.
