The Diamond Aircraft DA62 MPP (Multi-Purpose Platform) has once again proven its capability as a versatile and efficient aerial platform. In a recent mission, the aircraft completed a 9-hour, 20-minute surveillance flight, demonstrating its long-endurance performance, advanced technology, and operational flexibility.
Mission Overview
The route, spanning over 900 nautical miles, covered Wiener Neustadt, Austria, the Adriatic coastline of Croatia, the east coast of Italy, and concluded with a return leg through Venice and Carinthia.
This mission underscored the DA62 MPP’s ability to handle demanding operational requirements while delivering exceptional efficiency and cost-effectiveness, making it a standout choice for surveillance, reconnaissance, and multi-role operations.
The mission’s route provided a challenging mix of operational environments, including maritime, mountain, and coastal surveillance. These conditions allowed the DA62 MPP to showcase its advanced systems and reliable performance under real-world conditions.
Key Facts:
- Duration: 9 hours 20 minutes.
- Fuel Efficiency: An average fuel consumption of 8.6 gallons per hour of Jet-A1 fuel.
- Range: Over 900 nautical miles covered without the need for refuelling.
- Payload: Advanced surveillance equipment, including the ARTEMIS T-U IMSI Catcher from Smith & Myers and a state-of-the-art EO/IR camera EUROFLIR 410 by Safran.
Technical Innovations Driving Performance
At the heart of the DA62 MPP’s performance are its Austro Engine AE330 turbocharged jet-fuel engines. These engines, designed to run on widely available Jet-A1 fuel, deliver exceptional efficiency, reliability, and operational cost savings.
Advanced Onboard Systems
The DA62 MPP stands out for its ability to integrate advanced mission systems, making it an effective solution for surveillance and reconnaissance tasks:
Search and Rescue System by Smith & Myers
The ARTEMIS T-U SAR system provides real-time signal location and analysis, enabling operators to monitor communications over telecommunications frequencies. This capability is critical for search and rescue, law enforcement, and maritime surveillance missions.
EO/IR Camera by Safran
Euroflir™ 410 operates in four spectral wavebands – TV, NIR, SWIR, MWIR – with a wide field-of-view and ultra-long-range observation, allowing it to function at standoff distance at any time, day or night. The Euroflir™ 410 is specially adapted to a wide variety of missions, supporting law enforcement, homeland security, border and coastal surveillance, intelligence, SAR, and CSAR.
Operational Versatility in Action
The mission was designed to test the DA62 MPP’s operational flexibility across varied environments:
Maritime Surveillance
Equipped with state-of-the-art radar systems combined with EO/IR gimbals, AIS receivers, and maritime radios, the DA62 MPP is a renowned platform for observing human trafficking, illegal fishing, and smuggling.
Urban Scenarios
The aircraft’s systems transitioned seamlessly to urban observation, showcasing its adaptability for complex operational environments. The low noise signature of the aircraft allows unnoticed loitering over an area of interest, making it the ideal platform for law enforcement agencies.
Mountains
With a service ceiling of 20,000 feet, the DA62 MPP is ideally suited for mountainous terrain. Whether locating missing persons in avalanches or wildfires, the aircraft is a valuable asset for search and rescue organisations.
These capabilities illustrate the DA62 MPP’s suitability for a wide range of applications, including border patrol, disaster response, environmental monitoring, and aerial survey.
A Game-Changer in Cost-Effective Surveillance
The DA62 MPP’s ability to combine endurance, efficiency, and cutting-edge technology sets it apart in the world of aerial platforms.
Cost Efficiency
Operating on Jet-A1 fuel and offering low hourly consumption, the aircraft delivers long-endurance capabilities at a fraction of the cost of larger platforms, with a worldwide support network.
Multi-Role Capability
With its modular design, the DA62 MPP can be easily adapted for diverse missions, from surveillance and reconnaissance to environmental monitoring, law enforcement, or even survey tasks.
Sustainability
Its fuel efficiency not only reduces costs but also lowers the carbon footprint of long-endurance missions. In addition, the aircraft is capable of operating on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), further improving its environmental impact.
Looking to the Future
This successful mission reaffirms the DA62 MPP’s role as a leader in the lightweight surveillance aircraft segment. Governments, private organisations, and security agencies increasingly demand efficient, adaptable platforms to address modern challenges, and the DA62 MPP is uniquely positioned to meet those needs.
With its advanced technology, unparalleled efficiency, and demonstrated operational reliability, the DA62 MPP is not just an aircraft—it is a comprehensive solution for complex, high-stakes missions.
Diamond Aircraft’s DA62 MPP
The DA62 MPP is a versatile airborne platform that builds on the competitive advantages of Diamond Aircraft’s renowned DA62 model. These advantages include simple aircraft handling and Diamond’s unmatched safety record; Jet-A1 fuelled diesel engines that ensure the lowest operating costs in its class; a low noise and IR signature due to the engines’ on-top exhaust system; superb aerodynamics and immunity to corrosion provided by the aircraft’s all-composite structure; and much more.
