The Pentagon announced this month they will be purchasing from Textron Aviation two King Air 360ER aircraft that will be provided to Sri Lanka.
The total cost of the firm-fixed-contract was $11.4 million with a estimated completion date of September 2015.
The aircraft will feature a Telephonics RDR-1700B synthetic aperture radar with LN-251 inertial navigation system; FLIR Star Safire 380-HD electro-optical/infra-red sensors; a dual, side-facing mission system console for two operators; a full-motion video line-of-sight tactical datalink with mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) capability; and the Cobham Flexcomm RT-7000 PMR tactical radio.
Sri Lanka will use the aircraft for surveillance and reconnaissance missions. This will include maritime patrols and insuring observation of any hostile aircraft found in Sri Lankan airspace.
The official announcement from the U.S. Department of Defense:
“Textron Aviation Inc., Wichita, Kansas, was awarded an $11,444,058 firm-fixed-price contract for new commercial Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Wichita, Kansas, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 26, 2025. Fiscal 2022 Foreign Military Sales (Sri Lanka) funds in the amount of $11,444,058 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-22-C-0018).”