WIMBOURNE, England, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Australia's Customs and Border Protection Service is extending its agreement with a subsidiary of Cobham PLC for aerial maritime surveillance.
The extension of the deal with Cobham Aviation Services is for two years -- extending the existing contract through the year 2021 -- and is worth about $168.5 million.
"We're very proud of the civil maritime surveillance service we provide in Australia and the positive relationship we have with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service," said Cobham Chief Executive Officer Bob Murphy. "This two-year agreement extends our operation till 2021 and further underpins our business operations in this strategically important country, where we also provide contracted airline services for Qantas and fly in fly out services for numerous resource industry clients."
Cobham Aviation Services, under a performance-based contract, has been helping to protect Australia's borders since 1995, using modified Bombardier Dash 8 maritime patrol aircraft.
The aircraft -- 10 in all -- fly 2,500 missions a year for border protection and surveillance.
