U.S. to deploy new surveillance platforms to Colombia

DEFENSE DAILY
Monday, 13 March 2000
By Pennington Way IV

The United States will deploy two new airborne surveillance platforms to Colombia in an effort to increase intelligence on narcotics related activities in the region, according to the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).

An unspecified number of SOUTHCOM Reconnaissance Systems (SRS) and Airborne Sensor Platforms (ASP) will be forward deployed in the region later this year, according to a spokesman from SOUTHCOM.

The funding for these aircraft came from the FY '99 Omnibus Appropriations Bill supplemental.

The SRS is a Cessna [TXT] Grand Caravan aircraft configured for observation and intelligence gathering missions. The SRS will be used to monitor land and river movements, confirm or deny narcotics related positions such as clandestine laboratories and coca fields, and provide intelligence on international drug trafficking.

The SRS planes will be equipped with forward looking infrared (FLIR), multi-spectral cameras, encrypted communications, and undisclosed signals and communications intelligence gathering packages.

The Grand Caravan can fly between 250 and 700 miles at up to 25,000 feet, depending upon the number of passengers and payload weight.

The ASP is a J31 jetstream built by Britain's BAE SYSTEMS, which has also been specially modified for observation and intelligence gathering missions. The ASP will perform the same missions as the SRS and will have a similar electronics systems. The only difference is that the ASP will also be deployed with "foliage penetrating radar."

The J31 jetstream also maintains the same range and payload capabilities as the SRS's Grand Caravan aircraft.

In July, the U.S. Army lost an RC-7 reconnaissance aircraft in southern Colombia when it crashed into the side of a mountain, killing its U.S. and Colombian military passengers.

The SOUTHCOM spokesman said that these two systems "are not ARL [Airborne Reconnaissance Low replacements...they are an increase in resources."

In accordance with operations conducted in Colombian airspace, all intelligence gathering and observation flights will have Colombian "host riders" aboard.