De Havilland Canada and PAL Aerospace are teaming up to build a long-range patrol version of the Q400 regional airliner. The Dash 8 P-4 will be equipped to provide maritime patrol services as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. “PAL Aerospace is thrilled to work with De Havilland Canada on this important initiative for our company,” said Jake Trainor, CEO of PAL Aerospace. “The considerable cabin space, payload capacity, best-in-class airspeed profile and advantageous operating economics of the Dash 8-400 platform, combined with De Havilland Canada’s proud 92-year history of innovation and leadership in aircraft design and manufacturing, provide an ideal foundation from which to launch the Dash 8 P-4 program.”
The first customer for the aircraft is the Royal Malaysian Air Force, which will use it for offshore patrol. De Havilland CEO Dave Curtis said the partnership is a natural fit for his company to leverage the well-documented attributes of the Q400 with the special mission modification expertise of St. John’s-base PAL. “We are excited to collaborate on this initiative and believe strongly that the Dash 8 P-4 will prove to be a market leading MPA and ISR solution while supporting highly skilled employment and the development of critical intellectual property here in Canada.”