AirForces Monthly – June 2018

Finally, a Wescam MX-15 electro-

optical turret houses three

cameras in a fairing on the

underside of the aircraft. One

is a normal variable zoom video

camera, the other an IR video

camera with four-stage zoom,

while the third is a telephoto (fixed

focal length) video camera that

films in both colour and black and

white, as well as laser detection

for night operations. The crew

are provided with handheld

cameras and video cameras

and DF 430 direction finding

equipment is used to assist in

locating emergency beacons.

The aircraft are all fitted

with side hatches that can be

opened in flight to drop scientific

buoys, flares and smoke

bombs. Life rafts can also be

dropped – as small torpedo-

like parcels – from the hatches.

In addition to surveillance,

the Q300s take part in regular

international assignments

including Operation Triton in

Italy, a border security effort

conducted by Frontex, the

EU’s border security agency.

While the primary focus of

Triton is border control and

surveillance, SAR remains

a priority for the agency.

Since the beginning, Frontex

aircraft have regularly been

redirected by the Italian Coast

Guard to assist migrants in

distress. More recently, the

focus of Triton has expanded

to include detection of drug

smuggling, illegal fishing and

maritime pollution. A total of 26

EU countries take part in Joint

Operation Triton by deploying

either equipment or border

guards. At the time of writing,

Frontex supports Italy with

350 officers, 11 vessels and

five aircraft, and Sweden was

due to send one of its Q300s

in May. Spencer Wilmot

Above: The Q300 is equipped to carry a standard crew of two pilots and two system operators.

Kustbevakningen Below: Powered by twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123 turboprops each rated at

2,500hp, the Q300s can operate from small airfi elds at maximum weight. Fully fuelled, the Q300 can

fl y more than 1,500nm. Claes Axstå l/Kustbevakningen

ORBAT

Unit Aircraft Base

Flight

Division

Q300 Stockholm

Skavsta

Inventory

Aircraft Number

Q300 3

Coast Guard on patrol

http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #363 JUNE 2018 // 39