# MAG Aerospace wins MINUSMA Manned ISR contract

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2021/10/mag-aerospace-wins-minusma-manned-isr-contract/
- Published: 2021-10-11T10:03:26+01:00
- Author: Ekene Lionel

MAG Aerospace will supply ISR aircraft to United Nations peacekeepers in Mali to
aid them in their fight against jihadist groups.

US defense company MAG Aerospace has been operating surveillance aircraft for the
Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA) in Timbuktu, Mali, since
late last month.

In June last year, MINUSMA called for bids for airborne surveillance solutions, 
whereby the winner will procure and operate ISR aircraft in Mali.

Aside providing a manned aircraft, the contractor will also provide the associated
service components, maintenance, personnel and exploitation/analysis of the imagery
and data.

In addition to that, the winning company will also provide the necessary infrastructure
for its equipment and personal operating the ISR aircraft.

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Four companies comprising; CAE Aviation, Air Attack Technologies, Leonardo, and 
MAG Aerospace, responded and offered their unique solutions.

As part of the contract agreement, MINUSMA wants the imagery data collected to be
available in an unencrypted, non-proprietary format.

The new ISR system will be integrated with MINUSMA [newly acquired RADA Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radar (MHR) ](https://www.military.africa/2021/10/mag-aerospace-wins-minusma-manned-isr-contract/military.africa/2019/01/minusma-deploys-multi-mission-hemispheric-radar-mhr-to-protect-its-base)
which currently provides critical early warning capability against incoming projectiles.

The MHR radar systems
detects, track, classify and locate all types of direct and
elevated fires, including: rockets, rrtillery, mortars, ATGMs, RPGs, small arms,
and more.

MAG Aerospace’ offers the full spectrum of ISR operations: pilots and mission systems
operators; maintenance for the aircraft, sensors and mission equipment; logistics
and support; and site and program management.

The company’s multi-intelligence data collection and processing/exploitation/dissemination
services include using electro-optical infra-red (EO/IR) full motion video (FMV),
LIDAR, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), hyperspectral imagery (HSI), signals intelligence(
SIGINT), and maritime patrol surface search radar.

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![Mag aerospace beechcraft b350](military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/mag-
aerospace-beechcraft-b350.jpeg)

MAG Aerospace manned ISR solution

MAG Aerospace along with South Africa’s Paramount/US Leidos Bronco II were part 
of the US [Special Operation Command’s (SOCOM) Armed Overwatch competition](https://www.military.africa/2021/10/mag-aerospace-wins-minusma-manned-isr-contract/military.africa/2018/03/bronco-ii-south-african-made-mwari-goes-to-the-us),
they competed against Textron Aviation Defence AT-6E Wolverine, L3 AT-802U Sky Warden,
and Sierra Nevada Corporation M28/C-145 Wily Coyote.

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MAG Aerospace offered the MC-208 Guardian, while Paramount/Leidos offered their 
Bronco II aircraft. The two companies were eliminated last month from the competition.

This new airborne capabilities for MINUSMA is coming at a time when France, the 
major security provider [plans to withdraw its troops from Operation Barkhane ](https://www.military.africa/2021/10/mag-aerospace-wins-minusma-manned-isr-contract/military.africa/2020/11/war-weary-france-plans-troops-drawdown-in-africa)
from the north of Mali.

Last year, France increased the number of soldiers fighting under [Operation Barkhane ](https://www.military.africa/2021/10/mag-aerospace-wins-minusma-manned-isr-contract/military.africa/2018/06/operation-barkhane-french-war-in-africas-sahel?v=bf7410a9ee72)
to 5,100 due to deterioration of the security situation in the region.

However, early this year, France announced its willingness to reduce its troops 
fighting under Barkhane so as to focus on its **[Special Operations Task Force “Takuba” ](https://www.military.africa/2021/10/mag-aerospace-wins-minusma-manned-isr-contract/military.africa/2020/04/european-task-force-takuba-to-deploy-to-sahel)**
commitments.

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