Spy planes: Mooresville operations offer state-of-the-art border patrol aircraft technology
Published at 12:10 am on Sunday, October 23, 2022
MOORESVILLE — Various Jordanian Air Force personnel were in Mooresville on Friday to mark the first upgrade of six AT-802 Border Patrol aircraft at IOMAX USA headquarters at Lake Norman Airport. Brigadier General Mohammed Fatih Hiysat, commander of the Royal Jordanian Air Force, led a delegation including pilots, maintenance personnel and other officials from his country for the commissioning ceremony. About 30 of his IOMAX employees joined various dignitaries and invited guests for a ceremony that included cake cutting, luncheons and demo flights.
IOMAX USA is a global provider of design, manufacture and integration of aerospace, surveillance and weapons systems. The company offers weaponized aircraft and related systems specifically designed to meet security challenges, primarily in support of the fight against terrorism and drug enforcement.
KC Howard, Chairman and CEO of IOMAX USA, said: All you need to complete this project is trust, motivation, level of experience and professionalism, safety and ultimately training and knowledge transfer. ”
Hiyasat, himself an F-16 fighter pilot, said, “I appreciate IOMAX and the Jordanian Air Force for working together as a team. IOMAX has always been a reliable partner. Our next congratulations It will take place in Jordan and we invite you.”
Howard’s father started the company in 2001 in a Denver multifamily condominium. Howard rebuilt and grew the company in Mooresville. Egypt and the United Arab Emirates are other allies using IOMAX aircraft and technology.
IOMAX Vice President of Engineering and Mt. Ulla resident Jamie Bishop enjoys an ongoing partnership with Jordan and is looking forward to further opportunities with them in the future. he said: They are down to earth, hardworking and intelligent. ”
Bishop acknowledged the latest activity to Lt. Col. Tariq Hamri, the Jordanian liaison officer for the IOMAX project. “We already have exemplary communication with Jordan, but it definitely helps to have someone on site to speed up the process,” said Bishop.
Several rotations of pilots and technicians from Jordan will be trained at the Lake Norman facility.
Over the past 12 years, IOMAX has delivered 48 Border Patrol and Archangel aircraft to multiple US allied air forces. The company also provided related equipment, training, and post-delivery support. IOMAX aircraft conducted more than 4,500 combat sorties of his, directing more than 3,000 Paveway II bombs, 200 of his 70mm rockets and 100 Hellfire missiles to terrorist targets in the Middle East and North Africa, and 90 Maintained an operational readiness ratio of over 100%. Bishop said the Jordanian plane is the most advanced to date and is equipped with the latest technology.
Air tractor planes are the aircraft used by IOMAX due to their long-range capabilities, payload capacity and large wings for carrying weapons systems. Air tractor aircraft are agile but can reach altitudes of 20,000 feet. They can be delivered to areas of need by C-17 transport aircraft and other large freighters. Its large fuel capacity allows it to stay in the air longer and carry more weight than other aircraft in its class. Other models of air tractor planes have become staples for agricultural applications such as crop spraying and spraying, along with recreational applications such as towing gliders for take-off.
Equipped by IOMAX, the plane is a two-seater with a pilot in front who wears a special helmet with eyepieces for a head-mounted view of the aircraft’s speed, heading, and weaponry. An EO/IR infrared sensor camera is mounted under the fuselage of the aircraft and uses intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) technology for precision strike capabilities. A backseat crew member designated as Weapons Systems Officer operates cameras worth about $1 million each and lasers to keep the weapon on target until the pilot fires. You can even fly the plane from the backseat.
IOMAX has 32 employees, all in Mooresville except for the Egyptians and Emirates who represent the company’s interests in these countries.
Seamus Flately, Vice President of Business Development, said: Some of these opportunities include future work with existing customers, while others include new pursuits, including opportunities to provide technical services to our aircraft and other aircraft. ”
He continued, “We believe our business model is unique to the industry, especially when it comes to aircraft upgrades. Develop technical expertise and, for all subsequent aircraft, travel to the customer’s facility to advise and assist, as required, as the customer completes the remaining aircraft upgrades. reduces costs as customers learn new technical skills and understand their aircraft better A strong partnership is forged between IOMAX and our customers, which is the most important part of our business model It’s an important aspect and we see it as a key differentiator for us as a small business.”
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