Finnish CASA C-295 SIGINT outfit operational at last...

[Stratofreighter]

...yes, SIGINT.

https://www.upi.com/https:/www.upi.com/ ... 518445772/

The "Dragon Shield" airborne surveillance system built for the Finnish Defense Forces has achieved its final operational capability.

Lockheed Martin, who manufactures the Roll-on/Roll-off integrated intelligence system, said Friday that the milestone was achieved after the final flight test of the system.

The system is built for use in military transport aircraft, such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules.

The Dragon Shield system provides larger cargo aircraft with the ability to collect electronic intelligence, communications or signals intelligence capabilities in order to enhance situational awareness for the aircrew and provide command and control nodes with better imagery intelligence.

For the Finnish Defense Forces, Lockheed Martin modified an Airbus CASA C-295 cargo aircraft in order to integrate the Dragon Shield system.

The Finnish Defense Forces also received ground stations and communication terminals that support the capabilities of the airborne systems, Lockheed Martin said.

Finland is VERY secretive about this aircraft,
just like with the predecessor,
Sigint-outfitted Fokker Friendship FF-1.

Hence some extra links to a photo of C-295 CC-1 with some extra antennae, etc.
http://www.flyfinland.fi/view/12943/
/
https://twitter.com/vpkivimaki/status/7 ... 2446936064
/
https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000002889043.html
/
https://maanpuolustus.net/threads/mit%C ... 826/page-6

[F17_114PM]

Thanks for the info

Is FF-1 still active?

[Hans van Herk]

Thanks for the info

Is FF-1 still active?

Most probably not. These kind of aircraft are rarely seen, but it is safe to assume that FF-1 has been withdrawn from use by now.

Regards,
Hans van Herk

[F17_114PM]

Yes, most probably.
Maybe it lands finally in some nice Finnish museum.