Britten-Norman Defender

See also: Britten-Norman Islander

Defender
Britten-Norman Defender AL.2 of the British Army Air Corps
Role	Transport, patrol, reconnaissance
Manufacturer	Britten-Norman
First flight	May 1970
Developed from	Britten-Norman Islander

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.

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 2,500 pounds (1,100 kg) 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

Defender of the Greater Manchester Police, England

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 a FLIR turret or radar, and an increased payload. The prototype Defender 4000 first flew in 1994.

Operational history

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

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. In 2003 the British Army bought four Defender 4000 aircraft, known in service as the Defender AL1, fitted with under-wing defensive aids dispensers and an electro-optical turret under the nose. Since then, one other has been converted to Defender AL2 specification and three more Defender AL2s and one Defender T3 trainer have been ordered.

The Irish Air Corps bought one Defender 4000 in 1997. It is operated by the Garda Air Support Unit.

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

United Kingdom

Defender AL.2 of 651 Squadron of the Army Air Corps

British Army - Army Air Corps

Greater Manchester Police

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Ireland

Garda Air Support Unit

Belize

Belize Defence Force Air Wing 3 x BN-2B

Morocco

13 + 1 crashed at Ouazarzate 08DIC2019

Mauritius

National Coast Guard of Mauritius 1 x BN-2T

United States

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Specifications

General characteristics

From Britten-Norman Brochure

• Overall Length: 40 ft 4 in (12.2 m)
• Wingspan: 53 ft 0 in (16.2 m)
• Height: 14 ft 3 in (4.4 m)
• Empty Weight: 5,000 lb (2,300 kg)
• Maximum Takeoff & Landing Weight: 8,500 lb (3,900 kg)

• Powerplant: 2x Rolls-Royce Allison 250-B17F turboprops
• Takeoff Distance (Rolling): 1,167 ft (356 m)
• Landing Distance (Rolling): 1,012 ft (308 m)

• Rate Of Climb: 1,250 ft/min (6.35 m/s)
• Absolute Ceiling: 25,500 ft (7,800 m)
• Maximum Cruise Speed: 203 mph (176 knots, 326 km/h)
• Economical Cruise Speed: 173 mph (150 knots, 278 km/h)
• Range (Instrument FR): 991 miles (861 nm, 1595 km)
• Range (Visual FR): 1158 miles (1006 nm, 1863 km)

• Payload (With Maximum Fuel): 1,598 lb (725 kg)

Related content

• Islander
• Trislander

External links

• Defender BN2T-4S operated by Irish Air Corps for Gardai (Irish police force)