IOMAX negotiating Archangel sale to UAE, upgrading AT-802s for Jordan and Egypt

Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

23 June 2017

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is in the final stage of negotiations with IOMAX for the sale of 12 Archangel Block 2 Border Patrol Aircraft (BPA) with the option of 12 more, Jane's was told on 22 June.

The direct commercial sale (DCS) will see the UAE Air Force and Air Defence (UAE AF & AD) receive the additional aircraft to augment the 24 Block 1 Archangels it began receiving in 2015. These original 24 Archangels were procured to replace the UAE's 24 IOMAX AT-802s that have since largely been donated to allied countries.

"Using self-funded [research] and customer input over the past seven years, IOMAX is set to produce the Block 2 Archangel, which will allow the UAE AF & AD to further expand its mission scope," IOMAX told Jane's .

This Block 2 enhancement encompasses the integration of the IOMAX Archangel Armament Control System (ACS). In addition to the IOMAX Archangel Armament Control System (ACS), there are approximately 30 upgrades to the aircraft's performance, avionics, radios, weapons, and mission planning systems, including an upgraded electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) system to replace the Wescam MX-15. There is also an in-flight pilot egress system.

It is understood that the UAE's existing Block 1 Archangels will be upgraded to the Block 2 standard.

As noted by IOMAX, these negotiations follow on the back of a number of recent milestones for both its AT-802 and Archangel BPA in the Middle East. The North Carolina-based company has over recent weeks been contracted to upgrade AT-802s that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has donated to regional allies so as to harmonise their configuration with the Archangels being flown by and to be delivered to the UAE.

Source: janes.com

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