Field Aviation is the prime contractor and deliveries are scheduled for 2007. L-3 Communications Integrated Systems of Greenville, Texas will provide sensors and sensor integration. The sensor package includes surveillance radar, forward-looking infrared, and side-looking radar—as well as other systems for environmental monitoring.

The noise and vibration suppression in the Bombardier Q300 was of paramount importance because the aircraft will be conducting missions of long endurance and a quiet and comfortable working environment was considered to be critical.

This contract marks the first order for a special mission version of the Q300. Bombardier Dash 8-200 maritime patrol aircraft are now approaching 60,000 flying hours with Surveillance Australia on behalf of Australian Customs. Also the Bombardier Q200 has been selected by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency for maritime patrol.

"We proposed the Bombardier Q300 as the best available aircraft to meet Swedish Coast Guard requirements," said Joar Gronlund, vice president, business development, Field Aviation Company Inc.

"The Q300 has ample cabin space for the equipment, including sensors, currently required as well as for what might be added in the future. The performance of the aircraft, including cruise and loitering speeds, airfield requirements and mission endurance, also makes the Q300 the best choice," he adds.

The fuselage of the twin-engine Q300 is 84 feet long with a cabin length of 41.5 feet. The aircraft is equipped with two wing-mounted, Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123 turboprop engines. Each engine develops 2380 hp. The wing tanks store 834 gallons of fuel.

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