At last week’s Farnborough Air Show, Boeing announced that it is offering a medium-sized Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) to the global market.

MSA builds on technologies developed for Boeing's larger Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms to provide a highly capable, low-risk and cost-effective ISR solution.

“The Boeing Maritime Surveillance Aircraft directly applies advanced, proven and fielded capabilities from our P-8, Airborne Warning and Control System, and Airborne Early Warning and Control programs to solve our international customers' maritime surveillance challenges,” said Tim Peters, Boeing Vice President and General Manager, Surveillance and Engagement.

“We've selected a preferred aircraft and are in discussions with a manufacturer about supplying and modifying their aircraft. We hope to have an announcement on that element by the end of this year,” he added.

MSA incorporates best-of-industry sensor capabilities in radar, electro-optics, and electronic warfare. Its proven open-architecture design will allow for commonality across customers, missions, and industry partners. MSA will support a wide variety of missions, including anti-piracy, immigration patrols, economic exclusion zone enforcement, coastal and border security, and long range search and rescue.

Boeing's research indicates that the maritime surveillance market will be worth more than $10 billion over the next 10 years. The company has nearly 60 years of experience in providing maritime surveillance solutions.

“The Boeing Maritime Surveillance Aircraft showcases how Boeing is meeting customers' current and future needs by migrating advanced, mature technologies from one program into adjacent markets, even with non-Boeing platforms. MSA brings everything we've learned about commercial derivative programs to another tier of the international marketplace,” Peters concluded.