DAHER-SOCATA has received a Major Change Approval (MCA) from EASA for an ISR multi mission version of its TBM 700 and 850 turboprops.
The MCA will allow DAHER-SOCATA to begin marketing their TBM-MMA demonstrator to potential customers. The aircraft is fitted with a retractable Thales AGILE 2 gyro-stabilised multi-sensor turret under the aircraft’s aft fuselage which can accommodate up to four sensors including infrared and electro-optical systems, along with a laser rangefinder and a laser designator.
“The EASA’s Major Change Approval is the result of a multi-year development program, which has evolved a highly affordable airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform for both security and governmental operators,” said Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice-president of the DAHER-SOCATA Airplane Division.
A console has been fitted inside the cabin with a joystick for the turret and sensor imagery display monitor, as well as signal processors and digital recording equipment. The entire modification weighs just 131kg, and the console can be removed and the cabin reconfigured for passenger operations within 30 minutes.
