Morocco’s maritime King Airs

The Royal Moroccan Navy will soon receive two King Air 350ER aircraft configured for the maritime surveillance role. The aircraft (CN-TMR, msn FL-996 and CN-TMS, msn FL-1007) were both built in 2016 and were delivered to France in early 2018 for mission equipment to be fitted, a process which is believed to still be underway.

Equipment for the maritime surveillance role includes the Leonardo ATOS (Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance) system, Seaspray 7300 radar, identification friend or foe system, Link 11 datalink and EOST23 electro-optical sensor. Other additions include ventral fins and bubble observation windows. In July 2016 Leonardo announced it had been contracted to supply two King Air 350ER aircraft equipped with its ATOS mission system to an undisclosed African customer. Guy Martin