Air Force awards foreign ISR aircraft contract

Cessna C-208B Grand Caravans, used by the Afghan Air Force as basic trainers and light lift aircraft, sit on the ramp at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, March 3, 2016. The C-208s are used by the AAF and Train Advise Assist Command – Air, a team of professional and dedicated Air Advisors whom Afghan and coalition partners trust to lead the development of a capable and sustainable AAF. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Robert Cloys)

North American Surveillance Systems has been awarded a $40 million contract to support Cessna 208B ISR aircraft for foreign use.

Under the contract, North American will “provide modification and integration of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities into Cessna 208B aircraft, training, and field service representative support,” according to the Department of Defense contract announcement.

The contract involves “pseudo foreign military sales” for Chad, Cameroon, Niger and the Philippines, the DoD said.

The contract is partly financed by counterterrorism partnership funds.