B-N GROUP LIMITED
- FLYING THE FLAG IN AIRBORNE SURVEILLANCE PLATFORMS

From its headquarters at Bembridge in the Isle of Wight, B-N Group Limited manufactures supplies and supports the world-renowned Britten-Norman range of aircraft, which includes the piston engine and turboprop Islander, the Trislander and the new generation Defender twin turboprop surveillance aircraft. The company, which has been producing aircraft continuously since 1966 and has supplied over 1,250 aircraft to civil and military operators in 120 countries, is arguably the most successful UK commercial aircraft builder ever.

The Group's Chief Executive, William Hynett, is a former UK military pilot who has been involved in active service in the Gulf, Bosnia and Kosovo. Following front line service, he became deeply involved in a variety of test and evaluation programmes on behalf of the UK MoD. After leaving the military, he has continued to fly Reserves.

BN Defence:
In May 2003, B-N Group announced plans to form a defence trading arm - BN Defence Limited - to handle its current defence contracts and to manage the growing demand from military customers and police services wishing to upgrade the capabilities of their aircraft in support of increasingly intelligence-led operations. The company intends to expand its portfolio of systems integration projects by targeting additional aircraft types beyond the product range offered by sister company, Britten-Norman Aircraft.

The BN Homeland Defender:
The latest addition to its range of surveillance aircraft aimed at fulfilling a Homeland Security role is the BN Homeland Defender, based on B-N Group's proven Defender 4000 twin turboprop model. The company's Defender and Defender 4000 types are in operation with the UK Ministry of Defence's Science & Technology Department, the UK Army Air Corps and with police forces across the British Isles. They are also in service with numerous military, police and government organisations around the world and are used in a wide range of roles, including national security, border patrol, covert surveillance, police, customs, search & rescue, coast-watch and fisheries protection.

The new BN Homeland Defender has an impressive pedigree and an outstanding operational envelope in the surveillance role. Capable of carrying up to 3,500 lbs. of modern surveillance equipment, the aircraft has a low acoustic signature and a maximum endurance of approximately 8 hours and can patrol in excess of 7,000km2 in just one flying hour, day or night, operating from low level up to 25,000 feet altitude. While its transit speed to patrol area is 160 knots, its search speed of can be varied from140 knots down to an incredibly slow loiter speed of 70 knots (a safe margin for an aircraft that can be directionally controlled down to speeds as low as 30 knots).

Its excellent low-speed handling and manoeuvring capabilities allow continuous tight turns at low level for close inspection and photography, and this flexible performance envelope, combined with its eight-hour endurance and low acoustic signature, provides significant cost and operating benefits, being able to fly for longer, carry heavier loads and cover greater distances than rotor-winged aircraft. Scramble, from cold start to airborne, is approximately four minutes, allowing security forces to achieve a rapid reaction to any incursion.

The BN Homeland Defender is equipped with advanced avionics and electronic flight instrument system and a full range of communications. It incorporates surveillance aids such as blister observation windows and lower 'cut-out' windows, nose mounted FLIR and various antennae for secure speech air-to-ground communications, space for a minimum of two internal consoles plus a screened-off area for a toilet and for 'black boxes'. It can also carry up to 2,200 lbs of external stores comprising EW pods, extra fuel tanks or weapon systems, on four underwing hardpoints. Full unrestricted de-icing is installed as standard.

B-N Group has identified some 19 target programmes for its Defender aircraft, in Europe, south-east Asia and the USA. Around 100 Defenders have so far been manufactured for over nine countries.
 

B-N Group Limited
Bembridge Airport
Isle of Wight
PO35 5PR
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 870 881 5060
Fax: +44 (0) 870 881 5061
Email: marketing@britten-norman.com
Web site: www.britten-norman.com

 

Click here to obtain a copy of WORLD DEFENCE SYSTEMS