22 May 2020: US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) have awarded a contract for two additional Beechcraft King Air 350 CER to Textron Aviation. They will be used to safeguard the United States homeland as part of the coordinated application of CBP's aviation and maritime law enforcement resources.
Bob Gibbs, vice president, Special Mission Sales said, "These aircraft can fly six-hour missions and can deploy to hot spots where multi-sensor patrols assist both ground and marine agents to detect, interdict and prevent acts of terrorism as well as the unlawful movement of people, illegal drugs and other contraband toward or across the borders of the United States."
Sierra Nevada Corporation will undergo mission modifications in these aircraft after which they will join a fleet of 23 other King Air 350. The aircraft is operated by a crew of four, including two highly trained sensor operators who employ the mission equipment and coordinate the information flow to the ground.