Maritime surveillance plane ready to fly

Boeing's Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) is ready for customer demonstration flights.

The MSA is a Bombardier Challenger 605 mid-size business jet fitted with maritime sensors based on the P-8 Poseidon military patrol aircraft and the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) Block 40/45 aircraft. The MSA has just completed its baseline ground and flight testing of its mission systems, according to a Boeing news release.

"The mission systems flight test program proved the functionality and performance of the onboard sensors and was a huge accomplishment for the MSA team," said David Utz, MSA demonstrator flight test manager.

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