The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Kazakhstan of King Air B300ER Scorpion Aircraft with Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) Mission Systems and related equipment for an estimated cost of $128.1 million. The Government of Kazakhstan has requested to buy three (3) Raytheon AST TITAN Communications Intelligence (COMINT) Sensor Suites (2 installed, 1 spare). Also included are two (2) King Air B300ER Scorpion aircraft; three (3) Leonardo Osprey 30 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars (2 installed, 1 spare); three (3) WESCAM MX-15HDi Elector Optical Infrared Turret Electro Optical Infrared Sensors (2 installed, 1 spare); three (3) Sierra Nevada Small SWAP Auto Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) Systems (2 installed, 1 spare); secure communications; fixed and transportable ground control station.
The proposed sale will improve Kazakhstan’s capability to meet current and future threats by improving its capability to deter regional threats and conduct border security operations. Kazakhstan will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and services into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be Sierra Nevada Corporation, Hagerstown, MD. The King Air B300ER Scorpion Aircraft is a highly adaptable, multi-mission platform capable of worldwide maritime, border security, law enforcement and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The aircraft’s modular design approach allows it to be quickly reconfigured for special mission requirements. King Air B300ER Scorpion can be used in a variety of operations such as transport, reconnaissance and border security.
The King Air B300ER is twin-turboprop aircraft produced by Beechcraft. The aircraft offers flexible, reconfigurable interiors, making them equally adept at accommodating passengers, cargo, air ambulance, or other missions. The King Air B300ER is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A turboprop engines rated at 1,050shp at ISA +10C, each driving a Hartzell four-bladed, full-feathering, reversible, and constant speed propeller. It has retractable tricycle landing gear with dual wheels on each main unit.The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by Beechcraft. The Model 200 and Model 300 series were originally marketed as the “Super King Air” family; the “Super” designation was dropped in 1996. They form the King Air line together with the King Air Model 90 and 100 series. Beechcraft currently offers the 250 (design. B200GT) and the larger 350i (B300) models.
