Wings Magazine

News
Boeing tactical aircraft bests 1,000 flight hours

May 20, 2014, Fairfax, Va. - Boeing's Reconfigurable Airborne Multi-Intelligence System (RAMIS) aircraft has flown for more than 1,000 hours, demonstrating the reliability of the platform and systems that can be adapted for many missions.


May 20, 2014  By Carey Fredericks

Boeing has also demonstrated the system's intelligence-collection during several U.S. government exercises.

RAMIS is a Boeing-owned and operated King Air 350 extended range aircraft modified for plug-and-play reconfiguration. The aircraft's sensor suite can be tailored between sorties, enabling low-cost insertion of new technology as capabilities are developed or acquired.

"What makes our airborne multi-intelligence offering unique is our ability to easily change out cameras, sensors and radars to meet customers' needs without intensive modifications to the aircraft," said John Rader, Boeing vice president of Electronic and Sensor Solutions.  "That modularity has enabled us to rack up many demonstration hours with this aircraft. We can spend more of our time testing our systems in flight rather than in the hangar making modifications."

The aircraft, which has Federal Aviation Association Supplemental Type Certification, is Boeing's latest entrant in a family of airborne tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems that includes the P-8 Poseidon and the Maritime Surveillance Aircraft.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stories continue below