L-3 Mission Integration has conducted the maiden flights of the first Beechcraft King Air 350ER aircraft to be converted into a special mission platform under the US Army’s Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System – Multi-Int (EMARSS) program.

The Army contracted L-3 in March 2015 to convert one MC-12W Project Liberty aircraft into the EMARSS-M configuration. This configuration includes the integration of electro-optic/infra-red (EO/IR) sensor, communications intelligence (COMINT) collection system, an aerial precision geolocation system, line-of-site tactical and beyond line-of-site (SATCOM) communications suites, two Distributed Common Ground System-Army (DCGS-A) workstations and a self-protection suite.

Under the wider contract L-3 is already contracted to modify three additional platforms and could re-process or modify up to 36 aircraft.

The new EMARSS-M seen on its maiden flight, June 2016. Photo: L-3
The new EMARSS-M seen on its maiden flight, June 2016. Photo: L-3