Oppelt EX-9 Orion
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The Oppelt E9 AEW&C, also known as the EX-9 Orion is a twin-engine airborne early warning and control aircraft designed from the Oppelt E9 commercial aircraft. The design features a fixed, active electronically scanned array radar antenna with a range exceeding 600 kilometers, capable of simultaneous air and sea search, fighter control, and area search. Additionally, the platform is equipped with an electronic signals intelligence array capable of reaching a maximum range of over 1000 kilometers at an altitude of 9,000 meters. The radar signal processing equipment and central computer are located directly below the antenna array for ease of access and practicality.
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| An EX-9 Orion over Ceylonia | |
| Role | Airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) |
| Manufacturer |
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| First flight | 2011 |
| Introduction | November 2019 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users | Cartadanian Air Force |
| Number built | 31 |
| Developed from | Oppelt E9 |
To allow for extended missions, in-flight refueling is possible via a receptacle on top of the forward fuselage, similar to fighter aircraft. The cabin houses eight operator consoles with additional space for four more consoles, enabling a larger crew to operate the system. The Orion serves as a crucial component of the GAIA Web's airborne mesh radar network; the central hub of the area surveillance network.