Britten-Norman Defender Explained

The Britten-Norman Defender is a multi-role utility transport aircraft, manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. It is the military version of the Britten-Norman Islander, developed for roles such as utility transport, casualty evacuation, counter-insurgency and light attack, forward air control, patrol and reconnaissance. The term 'Britten-Norman Defender' refers to all militarised variants of the BN-2 product line including the BN-2 Piston Defender, the BN-2T Turbine Defender (sometimes known as the Defender 2000), the BN-2T-4R Defender (also known as AEW Defender and highlighted by its large bulbous nose) and the stretched variant BN-2T-4S, designated Defender 4000 (sometimes known as D4K).[1]

Development

First flown in May 1970, the Defender was based on the civilian Islander, and has a larger airframe with four underwing hardpoints for pylons to attach of fuel tanks, bombs, missiles, 7.62-mm (0.3-inch) machine-gun pods, rocket pods, flares, sensors and other stores.

The BN-2B (piston version) and BN-2T (turbine version) are used in military, coastguard, and police operations in several countries.

Defender 4000

The BN-2T-4S Defender 4000 is an enhanced version of the BN-2T Defender intended for the aerial surveillance role. Compared to earlier Defenders, it has a stretched fuselage, the enlarged wing from the Trislander, a new nose structure capable of accommodating an EO/IR sensor and radar, and an increased payload.[2] The prototype Defender 4000 first flew in 1995 and entered production in 1997.[3]

Operational history

Law enforcement use

The FBI deployed one Defender for electronic aerial surveillance on the Branch Davidians' compound during the siege of Waco in 1993.[4]

In August 2017, in an attempt to calm a gang war in Copenhagen, the Danish police force used at least one of the Danish National Guard's two Defenders to fly reconnaissance missions over the city.[5]

Military use

The Mauritanian Air Force employed six BN-2A-21 Defenders in the Western Sahara War against POLISARIO forces in 1976, losing two of them in action.[6]

A Rhodesian Air Force Alouette III, configured as a gunship or 'K-Car' (20mm cannon), shot down a Botswana Defence Force Air Wing Islander on 9 August 1979.[7]

In 1996, the Royal Cambodian Air Force deployed its three BN-2 Defenders in support of the dry season offensive against Khmer Rouge insurgents. The Defenders were armed with machine guns and rockets, and even dropped mortar rounds. One Defender was lost during the operation.[8]

In 2014 the Philippine Navy sent one of its Defenders to assist a multinational search and rescue party led by the government of Malaysia in search of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.[9]

United Kingdom

In January 2004, the British Army placed an urgent order for four BN-2T-4S Defender 4000 aircraft designated the AL Mk 1 for ISTAR missions in Iraq.[10] The Defender was to be configured similar to the Army Islander AL Mk 1 and Defenders in use with Hampshire Constabulary and Greater Manchester Police.[10] In October 2004, the first aircraft was delivered to No. 1 Flight AAC and deployed to Iraq that month.[10] The final Mk 1 was delivered in September 2006 to No. 651 Squadron AAC which had been reformed to operate the Defender.[10] The Mk 1 was fitted with a Wescam MX-15 Electro-Optical Infrared (EO/IR) turret under the nose, cabin-mounted cameras, COMINT and C2 equipment.[11] [12] [10] During the fleet's bi-annual return to the UK for in-depth servicing new ISTAR equipment was fitted.[10]

A second order was placed for four fully re-designed aircraft designated the Mk 2 and a trainer.[10] In September 2008, the first Mk 2 aircraft and one Mk 1 upgraded to Mk 2 standard were delivered.[10] The Mk 2 was fitted with TCAS, EGPWS, improved DAS, an improved avionics suite and ISTAR equipment enhancements.[10] The Mk 2 had a longer endurance than the Mk 1, being able to carry more fuel and also being able to operate at a lower height.[10] The training variant was also delivered in September 2008 designated the T Mk 3.[10] The final Mk 2 aircraft was to be delivered by 2012 along with the three Mk 1s upgraded to Mk 2 standard.[10]

In June 2009, the Defender's deployment to Iraq ended with 651 Squadron serving continuously since October 2004 during which time it had provided over 8,000 hours in support of UK Forces.[10] From January to February 2010, the Defender was trialled in the Middle East with a Counter-IED capability for potential use in Afghanistan.[10] Defenders deployed to Afghanistan from November 2010 through to 2012.[10] [13] In 2012, Defenders flew daily missions prior to and during the London 2012 Summer Olympics.[13]

In April 2019, the Defender was transferred from the Army to the Royal Air Force with No. 1 Group.[14] [15] The aircraft was re-designated from AL2 (prefix AL for Army liaison) to R2 (prefix R for Reconnaissance).[16] [17] [18]

In July 2021, it was reported that the Defender was retired from service on 30 June 2021 and that Britten-Norman had acquired the fleet and working with the Defence Equipment Sales Authority will convert the aircraft for civilian sale.[19] [20] [21]

Variants

Defender
  • Multi-role utility transport aircraft.
    Maritime Defender
  • Armed maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.
    Defender 4000
  • Enhanced Defender for the urban surveillance, counter-terrorism and maritime surveillance roles.
    AEW Defender
  • Airborne Early Warning aircraft

    Operators

    Air Force Home Guard – 2 x BN-2A-26[22]
    Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie 13 x BN-2T[25]

    Former operators

    References

    Bibliography

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Defender : More Than Meets The Eye. Britten-Norman . https://web.archive.org/web/20110807073138/http://www.britten-norman.com/brochures/defender.pdf . 7 August 2011 . 2005.
    2. Web site: BN2T-4S – Defender 4000 Surveillance Aircraft. britten-norman.com. B-N Group Limited. 6 February 2014.
    3. Web site: Britten-Norman Milestones. britten-norman.com. B-N Group Limited. https://web.archive.org/web/20120414213035/http://www.britten-norman.com/history/. 14 April 2012. 16 August 2010.
    4. FBI brings out secret electronics weapons as Waco siege drags on, by James Adams. The Sunday Times, p. 23, 21 March 1993
    5. Web site: Politiken, Danish newspaper . politiken.dk. 11 August 2017.
    6. Web site: Cooper. Tom. Morocco, Mauritania & West Sahara since 1972. ACIG.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090030/http://www.acig.info/CMS/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=228&Itemid=1 . 4 March 2016.
    7. Web site: Safarik . Jan J.. RHODESIA Post World War II Conflicts . aces.safarikovi.org/. 13 October 2016.
    8. Web site: Grandolini. Albert. Cambodia, 1954–1999; Part 3. ACIG.org. 6 February 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140805165355/http://www.acig.info/CMS/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=235&Itemid=47. 5 August 2014.
    9. Web site: PH planes ships still have no sighting of missing malaysian jet . Philippine Daily Inquirer . 9 March 2014 . 9 March 2014.
    10. Book: Warner . Guy . First in the Field : The Story of 651, the Army Air Corps' Premier Squadron . 2011 . Pen & Sword Aviation . Barnsley . 9781848842632.
    11. News: Ripley. Tim. UK MoD looks to transfer Army Defender and Islander aircraft to RAF. Jane's Defence Weekly. 14 September 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170813143945/http://www.janes.com/article/63768/uk-mod-looks-to-transfer-army-defender-and-islander-aircraft-to-raf . 13 August 2017. dead.
    12. Lake. Jon. Recce Terriers. AirForces monthly – Officially The World's Number One Military Aviation Magazine. November 2006. 224. Key Publishing Ltd. 0955-7091. Stamford.
    13. Roberts. CAPT Charlie. Army Air Corps (AAC) Fixed Wing (FW) Manned Airborne Surveillance (MAS). LZDZ : Journal of the Joint Helicopter Command. 2014. 1. Lance Publishing. 921510604. Kettering. 8 March 2020.
    14. @HarvSmyth. Air Vice Marshal Harvey Smyth Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group. 1112730019372195842. 2 April 2019. Handover of Fixed Wing Manned Aerial Surveillance from Army to RAF..
    15. News: Jennings. Gareth. UK transfers Defender and Islander special mission aircraft from AAC to RAF. Jane's Defence Weekly. 2 April 2019. 23 February 2020.
    16. Avionic Upgrades for the RAF's Britten-Norman Islanders . Britten-Norman . 22 February 2020 . 23 July 2019.
    17. Taylor. Steven. Operation Helvetic air support. AirForces monthly – Officially The World's Number One Military Aviation Magazine. January 2020. 382. 46–49. Key Publishing Ltd. 0955-7091. Stamford.
    18. News: RAF Islander Avionics Upgrade Contract . Warnesy's World . 18 August 2019 . 10 September 2019 . 22 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200222195106/http://warnesysworld.com/raf-islander-avionics-upgrade-contract-awarded/ . dead .
    19. News: Farewell Islander/Defender . 13 August 2021 . Scramble . Dutch Aviation Society . 11 July 2021.
    20. Britten-Norman Eyes New Export Opportunities . Britten Norman . 28 July 2021. 11 January 2022.
    21. News: British Army Retires Final Defender, Islander Aircraft . 13 August 2021 . Key.Aero . Key Publishing . subscription . 12 July 2021.
    22. Flyverhjemmeværnet kan arbejde fra luften . Defence Command Denmark . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305070010/http://forsvaret.dk/FST/Nyt%20og%20Presse/Pages/Flyverhjemmev%C3%A6rnetkanarbejdefraluften.aspx . 5 March 2016 . da . 8 June 2015. The Air Force can work from the air.
    23. Warner. Guy. Policing Ireland. Air International. October 2015. 89. 4. 110–115. 0306-5634.
    24. Web site: National Coast Guard . Mauritius Police Force . 8 March 2020.
    25. Web site: Aviation Fanatic . aviationfanatic.com . Unknown . 2019 . 12 October 2019.
    26. Web site: World Air Forces 2014 . 23 . Flightglobal Insight . 2014 . 1 January 2014.
    27. Web site: G-INFO G-CGTC. Civil Aviation Authority. 14 March 2020.
    28. Web site: First Lee-built B-N aircraft flies . Lee Flying Association . 13 March 2020 . 20 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200520075617/http://www.eghf.co.uk/index.php/aerodrome-news/191-first-flight-of-the-first-new-build-aircraft-to-be-manufactured-at-daedalus-lee-on-solent-airfield-by-britten-norman . dead .
    29. Book: Ministry of Defence. UK Armed Forces Equipment and Formations 2019. 1 April 2019. 24 February 2020. Table 7. Aircraft: Fixed-wing platforms of the UK Armed Forces.

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