Kuwait orders US surveillance aircraft

The State Department has approved a $259m order for four King Air 350ER intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft. The deal was notified to Congress by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency on 21 February. It includes a range of electro-optical and infrared imaging sensors, active electronically scanned array radars, missile warning systems and other equipment for the aircraft. The deal will give Kuwait airborne ISR capabilities for the first time. One of the four aircraft will be modified to carry VIPs.