Two Beechcraft B300ER Scorpion reconnaissance aircraft for Kazakhstan

On 23 December 2020, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) sent a notification to the US Congress of the upcoming sale of two Scorpion reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft to the Government of Kazakhstan.

The Scorpion, based on the Beechcraft King Air 300, will be supplied under the FMS (Foreign Military Sales) intergovernmental programme. The total cost of the proposed delivery is valued at USD 128.1 million, including training and technical support package.

The general contractor for the supply is the Sierra Nevada Corporation based in Hagerstown (MD). According to the notification, the delivery includes two King Air B300ER aircraft and three Raytheon AST TITAN Communications Intelligence (COMINT) Sensor Suites (two installed and one spare). Also included are three Leonardo Osprey 30 airborne AESA radars, WESCAM MX-15HDi Elector Optical Infrared Sensors, Sierra Nevada Small SWAP Auto ELINT Systems as well as other equipment (secure communications, fixed and transportable ground control station, ground support equipment, integration and test support).

Technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, a basic set of spare parts, software support, logistics support and other related elements are part of the contract.

The King Air B300ER Scorpion is an easily adaptable multifunctional ISR platform capable of reconnaissance and border protection operations with short and medium endurance. These aircraft are actively used by law enforcement agencies and the military around the world.