The Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana [AMI]) is to upgrade its General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GAASI) MQ-9 Predator B medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with a new maritime radar mode for search-and-rescue (SAR) duties, the company disclosed on 15 January.
The AMI's six MQ-9s will have their Block 30 Lynx Synthetic Aperture Radar/Ground Moving Target Indicator (SAR/GMTI) multimode radars enhanced with a maritime wide-area search (MWAS) mode that is optimised for detecting and imaging very small vessels, such as those used by migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa.
Since October 2013, the AMI's MQ-9s have been involved in the Italian government's Operation 'Mare Nostrum' to tackle the immigration emergency following the deaths of nearly 400 migrants when their vessel sank near the island of Lampedusa in the same month.Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's International Defence Review
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