Hawker Beechcraft Corporation has been awarded a contract by the United States Air Force with an estimated value of $171 million. The contract is for 23 extended-range special mission Beechcraft King Air 350ER turboprops. Deliveries will take place in 2009.

“We are honored to be part of the team supplying this critical capability to our military and to continue our long term relationship with the U.S. Department of Defense,” said Jim Schuster, HBC chairman and CEO. “The King Air 350ER is ideally suited for use in special missions as an airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform. We understand the priority of this important mission and are committed to the aircraft deliveries necessary for rapid deployment.”

The versatile King Air 350ER is part of the Beechcraft King Air family. The King Air 350ER is a derivative of the King Air 350, and provides extended range through the addition of nacelle fuel tanks, along with an increase in gross weight from 15,000 to 16,500 pounds and the incorporation of heavy-weight landing gear. The King Air 350ER will be modified for the USAF with military required equipment and provide the Air Force with advanced technology and reliability.

The King Air 350ER can provide over eight hours of endurance and has the flexibility to loiter low and slow or cruise at 300 knots and 35,000 feet. Taking off at gross weight with full fuel and full payload, the King Air 350ER can fly out 100 nautical miles, perform a low altitude surveillance mission for seven hours and 20 minutes, fly back 100 nautical miles, and still land with over 45 minutes of fuel on board.