Aircraft
OEMs Challenged in Asia by New Providers of Maritime Surveillance
Lesser known companies are making headway in Asia with lower-cost systems.
Innovative maritime surveillance solutions are on offer from various smaller providers. They take advantage of new display technology such as the MSS7000 system offered by S&T Airborne Systems (left), and low-cost aircraft such as the Tecnam MMA (right) recommended by Airborne Technologies. (Photos: Chris Pocock and Airborne Technologies)
Innovative maritime surveillance solutions are on offer from various smaller providers. They take advantage of new display technology such as the MSS7000 system offered by S&T Airborne Systems (left), and low-cost aircraft such as the Tecnam MMA (right) recommended by Airborne Technologies. (Photos: Chris Pocock and Airborne Technologies)

Traditional providers of maritime surveillance aircraft and systems are being challenged by smaller companies offering lower-cost solutions that are especially attractive to smaller countries whose priorities are littoral protection. At the recent Maritime Domain Awareness and Coastal Surveillance Conference and Exhibition in Singapore, organized by IQPC, major OEMs such as Airbus D&S, Dassault Aviation, Saab and Thales were outnumbered by a clutch of lesser-known entities. Some of them have already achieved sales success in Asia.