DA42MPP Guardian surveillance aircraft (Photo Credit: Diamond Airborne)
Operated by the Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Safety and Security(PICOMSS) in conjunction with the Nigerian Air Force, the DA42 MPP (Multi Purpose Platform)
GUARDIAN is a flexible, multi-functional
sensor carrier and an innovative
composite, twin-engine aircraft all in one.
The aircraft has been specially designed for carrying easily interchangeable, multi-functional aerial sensor equipment, like EO/IR gimbal for
surveillance and reconnaissance missions, airborne laser scanners or large format digital aerial cameras. It can effortlessly carry equipment of up to 85 kg (188 lbs).
The Multi Purpose Platform is able to carry a gyro-stabilized daylight and thermal video camera, laser scanner and digital aerial cameras. A micro-wave up- and-downlink system for high quality transfers with a range of more than 100 nm, a beyond-line-of-sight satellite downlink and other radios like UHF or a VHF an even military radios is part of the
standard available MPP equipment.
Engine 2 x AUSTRO ENGINE AE300 (168hp each)
Propeller 2x MT 3-blade hydraulic
Max. cruise speed (14,000ft, MCP) 328 km/h TAS 177 kts
TAS Min operation speed 140 km/h IAS 76 kts IAS
Consumption at 35% power (loiter
speed) 24.2 lt/hr 6.4 US gal/hr
Max. airborne operations time at 35%
power 12 hours1)
Typical airborne operations time 6 – 8 hours
Max. range at 50 % in 14.000 ft
standard/auxiliary tank 1,452 km / 2,218 km) 784 nm / 1,198 nm)
Take-off distance over 50 ft obstacle
(ISA SL) 700 m 2,297 ft
Landing distance over 50 ft obstacle
(ISA SL) 570 m 1,870 ft
Max. service ceiling 5,486 m 18,000 ft
Data+Photos: Diamond Sensing
Has PICOMSS not been abolished?
This is also a beautiful airplane. I saw one over the Irish Sea shortly after they were introduced to the civilian marketplace, and it was stunning.
This example seems to be limited to optical/infared observations – no radar worth mentioning, although there might be a weather radar in the nose, but I rather doubt there is room once the mechanisms for the stabilized Electro-Optical ball is taken account of. I wonder if PICOMSS just bought the demonstrator from Diamond? It looks like the exact same airplane, with two different registrations in the pictures.
Excellent loiter time, at decent speed, but without the extensive overhead (Ground station, launchers, specialized training) that a big surveillance drone would require.
i don’t like the fact that most nigerian airforce bases are located inside civilian airports.
Every civillian AIRPORT in the WESTERN world has AN air force/ military component attached to it since 9/11 and 7/7. You just don’t see it get used to it Based on security concerns in Nigeria / AMERICA/ Britain AIR FORCE BASES will share space for a long time to come.
@ demola tank u for dat superp observation… Locating airbase in civilian airports is a tactical disadvantage during wartime. I dnt need to start mentioning how critical dedicated military airbase is we all knw dat. Can somebody pls tell me all our FOBs and dedicated military airbase are located.
Hehehe guys our airspace is so porous, it doesn’t matter where u locate the air bases.
@ ademola makes a good point, if we had a respectable air force/ air defense system
oga mi doziex we need the airplanes first
seriously, we need at least 100 fighter jets of 4th generation and above,4 dedicated airforce bases, 5 multipurpose AEWACS/maritime survellance aircrafts.