Search-and-rescue radar for special mission jets of Cobham Aviation Services in Australia have been ordered from Britain's Selex ES, the company announced.

Under the multi-million dollar award Selex ES will provide its Seaspray 5000E Active Electronically Scanned Array surveillance radar, which will enable Cobham Aviation to deliver 24/7 SAR services to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority from the cities of Cairns, Melbourne and Perth with its Challenger CL-604 aircraft.

"Seaspray 5000E is a class-leading airborne surveillance radar ideally suited to search-and-rescue work," Selex ES said. "In addition to its high reliability, compact size and ease of use, the radar's unique AESA technology-enabled 'small target detection' capability were critical discriminators in its selection."

The Seaspray 5000E is being used on SAR aircraft of two other customers, Selex ES said, and its larger version, the 7500E, is in service with U.S. Coast Guard's C-130 patrol aircraft.

The Seaspray family or radars are manufactured at Selex ES's Edinburgh plant in Scotland.