 |
Brig. Khutub Hai, Chief
Executive, Mahindra Defence Systems |
Aero India 2007
will witness the India launch of a unique aircraft, SEEKER that can
take off and land on rough runways, fill up on normal petrol and fly
extended missions as an aerial observation platfrom for both civil
and security applications.
Mahindra
Defence Systems (MDS), part of the Mahindra Group plans to display
this unique aircraft at Aero India 2007. "It has tremendous
applications as a cost-effective aerial platform for observation
purpose by agencies such as the Army Aviation, Coast guard and the
Border Security Force", said Brig. Khutub Hai, Chief Executive,
Mahindra Defence Systems. MDS plans to bring in the aircraft
through a group company, Mahindra Plexion, which in turn has
obtained marketing rights from Seabird Aviation Jordan.
The SEEKER aerial observation platform in extremely popular in
Western, Eastern, Southern and Central Africa which are marked by
poor runway conditions and non-availability of aviation turbine
fuel. The SEEKER is an affordable, cost-effective and truly
versatile manned surveillance and reconnaissance platform. The
aircraft has been specifically designed for developing countries,
and allows government agencies to maintain visible policing and
security operations with a platform that is safe as well as easy to
operate and maintain. In July 2004 the SEEKER was selected by the
Iraq Coalition Provisional Authority for deployment with the newly
re-established Iraqi Air Force.
The aircraft is available with a large variety of observation
payloads and is ideal for a wide range of applications beyond purely
security and military roles, from pipeline and power line
monitoring, through to wildlife and environmental impact monitoring.
The SEEKER is assessed to be perfectly matched for civil
applications such as crowd control and sporting events. It can fly
low for extended periods and has excellent turbulence handling
capabilities.
The SEEKER has an agile and stealthy profile and so enables its
aircrew to approach areas of interest with low risk of detection and
report immediately their observations using both line-of-sight and
beyond line-of-sight voice communications.
The SEEKER has a helicopter-like cockpit with outstanding levels of
visibility across the forward hemisphere. Cost-estimates of
operators so far show that acquisition and operating costs for the
aircraft are a third of a comparable twin-seater helicopter.
The SEEKER has a cruising speed between 65 and 112 knots, and can
stay airborne for over five hours and loiter over its target, which
is key to patrolling pipelines, monitoring power lines and
performing border patrol work. | 
