IOMAX prepares to deliver first ISR-upgraded Grand Caravan to Jordan

Jordan is to field four Grand Caravans upgraded in an ISR configuration in addition to the six already in service (pictured) with the Royal Jordanian Air Force. (Janes/Patrick Allen)

IOMAX is preparing to deliver to Jordan the first of four new Cessna C-208B Grand Caravan EX aircraft to be upgraded with an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) system, a company spokesperson told Janes on 27 February.

The first aircraft will be presented to the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) at a ceremony at the company's Mooresville facility in North Carolina during the week beginning 4 March. The remaining three aircraft will be delivered before the end of 2024.

The work has seen the aircraft fitted with an electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) sensor, operator console, tactical radio, ground surveillance radar, video datalink, and night-vision-compatible lighting.

IOMAX previously told Janes that two aircraft were to be fitted with a new ISR system, but said that this was later amended to four new aircraft. The RJAF already fields six C-208B Grand Caravans (also known as the RC‐208B in their ISR configuration), which were delivered from 2010. These are operated out of King Abdullah II Air Base by 15 Squadron.

This effort is part of a wider effort by the US Department of Defense (DoD) to equip allied air arms with Grand Caravan EX aircraft. In recent years, the DoD has issued a number of indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) awards to supply allied air arms with non-standard (not in the US inventory) aircraft types that include the C-208 Grand Caravan EX and the AC-208 Combat Caravan (also known as Eliminator).

For more information on the Grand Caravan, please seeCessna 208 Caravan.