Project Sentinel

CUSTOMS CIVIL AERIAL MARITIME SURVEILLANCE

Value

$1 billion

Key Partners

Cobham – National Air Support/Surveillance Australia
Australian Customs Service

Project Overview

In 2006, Cobham was awarded the fixed wing civil maritime surveillance contract with Customs Border Protection Command, continuing a service that has been performed by Cobham since 1995. The Project Sentinel contract will run for 12 years from 2008 to 2020. Under the contract, Cobham has supplied and now operates and maintains a fleet of 10 highly modified, fully electronic Dash 8 surveillance aircraft.

The program is the world’s largest aerial civil maritime surveillance operation and involves more than 240 personnel and 10 aircraft flying 15,000 hours per year. 

The aircraft provide all-weather, day and night electronic surveillance of Australia’s 15 million square kilometre maritime exclusive economic zone. Flights extend up to 1,800 kilometres offshore and surveillance takes place 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. 

The aircraft operate from three primary bases (Broome, Darwin and Cairns). Activity is South Australia is concentrated on:

  • aircraft modification
  • heavy maintenance
  • integration activity
Project Milestones

Mar 2006 Cobham and the Australian Customs Service signed the Project Sentinel contract

Jul 2007 Cobham delivered the final Dash 8 aircraft to Australian Border Protection Command