The CN-235 as a maritime patrol platform
The CN-235 is a twin-turboprop medium tactical transport with substantial cabin volume, long endurance, and a rear loading ramp. Its fuselage seats multiple mission consoles, sensor operators, and tactical coordinators side by side, which is exactly what complex maritime patrol operations demand.
The type entered the Airbus family through CASA and remains one of the most widely converted maritime patrol airframes flying. Operators maintain CN-235 fleets for sustained offshore surveillance and search and rescue coordination, and the conversion ecosystem is mature: mission variants are well documented, parts supply is stable, and crew training pipelines exist.
AIMS-ISR on the CN-235
CarteNav has integrated AIMS-ISR on the CN-235, enabling multi-console crews to run sensor-fusion operations with minimal platform-specific customization. Radar, EO/IR, and AIS converge into one search picture displayed across every operator workstation, recorded to evidence-grade standards and shared ashore in real time through AIMS-C4.
The CN-235’s cabin naturally fits the full operator complement an AIMS-ISR mission architecture supports, and crew stations stay common with other AIMS-ISR platforms, from the Dash 8 to smaller types, so personnel move flexibly across a mixed fleet.
Mission profiles
- Maritime patrol: extended surveillance of territorial waters, EEZs, and shipping routes with radar detection and EO/IR confirmation
- Defence aviation: tactical transport and maritime surveillance with evidence recording and shore-link integration
- Aircrew training and simulator support: a multi-console cabin suited to training sensor operators and mission crews on full AIMS-ISR workflows
