On October 27th, 2015, the Armed Forces of Malta released a press release announcing the signing of a contract for the provision of a third King Air B200 funded by the EU 2014-2020 Internal Security Funds (ISF). The contract was signed in the presence of Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi, the Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta and other high ranking members.
Also present was Aerodata President and CEO Hans J. Stahl. Aerodata, whose facilities are located at Braunschweig airport in Germany, will be responsible for modifying the King Air as it has the two previous. The aircraft will be fitted with integrated systems and a service support package that will strengthen the current fixed wing fleet’s role of protecting the southern external borders of the EU. Specialized equipment will include a belly-mounted radar, a forward looking infrared (FLIR) system, and an SAR direction finder. The aircraft will also feature state-of-the-art satellite communication and data transmission equipment.
Malta, a tiny island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, has a population of just under 450,000 people in a 122 square mile space (Wikipedia). Due to its central placement, illegal immigration is not uncommon and must be monitored. Additional responsibilities of the aircraft will be fisheries protection and search and rescue operations.
AFM fixed wing pilots and technical personnel receive their basic configuration King Air B200 training at Flight Safety International training facilities in Wichita, Kansas. At the facility, the pilots utilize an all-moving simulator. Additional specialized training occurs at the Braunschweig facility of Aerodata to learn maritime patrol configuration. Training includes use of the electro optical and infra red camera, 360 degree belly-mounted search radar, direction finding equipment and various other communications and surveillance systems.