FIRST TECNAM P2006T MRI (MULITI-SENSOR RECONNAISSANCE AND IDENTIFICATION) AIRCRAFT NOW OPERATING IN SOUTH AFRICA

First Tecnam P2006T MRI (Multi-Sensor Reconnaissance and Identification) aircraft now operating in South Africa

Tecnam at 9th October announced that the first Tecnam P2006T MRI entered operational service with South African security company CSS Tactical Ltd.

CSS Tactical is a local security company specialising in armed response, perimeter protection, CCTV monitoring and in a joint agreement with INDRA will be marketing, selling and operating and maintaining the P2006T MRI system in several countries in the African region.

Developed by INDRA, the global leader in advanced technology security and defence solutions, the Tecnam MRI (Multisensor Reconnaissance and Identification) aircraft has been specifically developed to patrol those maritime zones currently kept under surveillance by coastguards utilising medium-size helicopters and large maritime patrol aircraft in particular. The Tecnam MRI affords significant opportunities for clients seeking more efficient and effective maritime security and costal patrol missions.

The MRI system is also designed to fulfil many other specialist tasks including, maritime safety, search and rescue, fisheries protection, oil field protection, marine environmental protection, drugs interdiction, illegal immigration interdiction and other law enforcement missions.

It includes a Seaspray 5000E Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) multi-mode surveillance radar from SELEX Galileo that can use several modes simultaneously. Electro-optical and infrared sensors (Ultra Force 275) are supplied by FLIR Systems. Other equipment includes an AIS (Automatic Identification System) transponder for identifying ships, which is integrated with the radar picture. All information that is gathered is recorded and transferred in real time to a ground station via a datalink.

Tecnam’s P2006T airframe was selected by INDRA as the base platform for the MRI due to reliability, economy of operation, maintainability and performance. The Tecnam P2006T is powered by two four cylinder Rotax 912S3 engines delivering 100 hp each. Fully retractable landing gear allows for an uninterrupted view for the sensors. 200 litres of fuel provides six hours of flying time with a cruise speed of 130 knots.

This first production MRI was delivered direct from INDRA in Spain to CSS Tactical in South Africa in just 5 days, routing via in Libya, Niger, Gabon, Congo, Angola and Namibia.

The two man crew covered the distance of 5350NM/9.908 km in a total 41:55 flight hours at an average speed of 237 km/h and with an average fuel consumption of just 36 lt/h.