# BIRD Aerosystems completes ASIO Maritime Surveillance Task Force Solution to African customer

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2021/07/bird-aerosystems-completes-asio-maritime-surveillance-task-force-solution-to-africa-customer/
- Published: 2021-07-06T11:36:43+01:00
- Author: Military Africa

The ASIO Maritime Surveillance Task Force Solution provided includes multiple Maritime
Patrol Aircraft installed with BIRD’s advanced MSIS mission management system – 
which was also at the Naval HQ command and on a number of vessels

BIRD Aerosystems, a global provider of innovative defense technology and solutions
that protect the air, sea and land fleets of governments and related agencies, has
delivered a complete ASIO Maritime Task Force Solution to an undisclosed African
government.

The ASIO Maritime Task Force Solution provided includes multiple Cessna Citation
CJ3 aircraft that the company converted into Maritime Patrol Aircraft, together 
with BIRD’s advanced mission management system (MSIS) which was also installed on
a number of vessels as well as at the naval HQ command.

BIRD Aerosystems’ ASIO Maritime Task Force Solution provides customers with an integrated
Aerial-Naval-Land solution. It facilitates maritime and coastal surveillance, patrol
and survey of borders and strategic assets, and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) monitoring
capabilities. Leveraging BIRD’s MSIS for complete mission operational support, including
planning, execution, debriefing, online mission updates, and complete situational
awareness between all segments (airborne, naval & ground) within the task forces,
ASIO delivers an extremely powerful, comprehensive and flexible maritime patrol 
solution, enabling efficient detection, tracking and interception of any suspicious
activity at sea.

Ronen Factor, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Founder at BIRD Aerosystems: “BIRD’s
ASIO Maritime Task Force Solution, including the Cessna Citation CJ3 aircraft, will
be used to defend the customer’s territorial waters, with an emphasis on detecting
illegal fishing, oil theft, and smuggling. Rapidly deployed in multiple configurations,
ASIO enables even small crews to deliver detailed and comprehensive surveillance
information covering large geographic areas.”

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In April, two [Special mission CJ3 Cessna aircraft arrived the Nigeria](https://www.military.africa/2021/07/bird-aerosystems-completes-asio-maritime-surveillance-task-force-solution-to-africa-customer/military.africa/2021/04/nigerias-nimasa-receives-special-mission-cessna-cj3-aircraft-for-deep-blue-project)
through the NAF Tactical Air Command (TAC), with its headquarters situated at Makurdi.

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Both Special mission CJ3 Cessna aircraft will operate from the Nigerian Air Force(
NAF) 107 Air Maritime Group (NAF 107 AMG) located in Benin city.

The Special mission CJ3 Cessna aircraft were configured by Birds Aerosystems and
likely fitted with the Leonardo SeaSpray AESA surveillance radar as well as an electro
optical FLIR sensor says NIMASA Executive Director, Operations, Rotimi Fashakin.

Nigeria’s Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is the recipient
Of Bird Aerosystems’ advanced maritime patrol sensor and integrated [Mission Management system (MSIS).](https://www.military.africa/2021/07/bird-aerosystems-completes-asio-maritime-surveillance-task-force-solution-to-africa-customer/military.africa/2019/09/bird-aerosystems-introduces-msis-2-0-an-enhanced-airborne-mission-management-system)

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In January last year, Bird Aerosystems announced that it has [received a contract](https://www.military.africa/2021/07/bird-aerosystems-completes-asio-maritime-surveillance-task-force-solution-to-africa-customer/military.africa/2019/01/an-african-country-acquires-bird-aerosystems-maritime-surveillance-system?v=65d8f7baa677)
for its Airborne Missile Protection Systems (AMPS) and Airborne Surveillance, Information
and Observation (ASIO) solutions.

However, due to the customer’s request, the Sub-Saharan nation was not disclosed.
The acquisition is part of [NIMASA’s Deep Blue Project, ](https://www.military.africa/2021/07/bird-aerosystems-completes-asio-maritime-surveillance-task-force-solution-to-africa-customer/military.africa/2020/05/nigerias-deep-blue-project-bolstered-with-new-equipment?v=65d8f7baa677)
a multi-layered security framework set-up to protect Nigeria’s Economic Exclusive
Zone.

The Cessna Citations configured for the maritime surveillance would be fitted with
its Airborne Surveillance, Intelligence and Observation (ASIO) maritime solution
as well as its Mission Management system (MSIS).

Meanwhile, BIRD Aerosystems, the leading developer of Airborne Special Mission Aircraft
Solutions (ASIO) and Airborne Missile Protection Systems (AMPS), announces it has
[completed a successful trial of the OSCAR solution in Africa.](https://www.military.africa/2021/07/bird-aerosystems-completes-asio-maritime-surveillance-task-force-solution-to-africa-customer/military.africa/2020/01/bird-aerosystems-oscar-maritime-domain-awareness-solution-completes-first-operational-trial)

The successful trial and the OSCAR solution’s unique capabilities will be presented
during the upcoming [Africa Maritime Security Forum](https://africamaritimesecurity.com/)
in Senegal.

During the trial, the **OSCAR** (Ocean Surveillance Control and Reconnaissance solution)
system was operated for a customer in Africa, and applied machine-learning algorithms
on real-time maritime data sources such as satellite and terrestrial AIS, satellite
SAR/EO/IR, LRIT, coastal radars, tactical sensors and more.

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