Seeker Aviation announced plans on Wednesday to build the SB7L-360 Seeker-2 surveillance aircraft in the USA.
Up to now, the Australian designed and manufactured aircraft has been built by only Seabird Aviation in Hervey Bay, QLD.
Seeker Aviation, which owns Seabird, has contracted helicopter manufacturer Erickson to build the aircraft in Portland, Oregon.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified the Seeker to FAR 23 last year, and according to the company, the move to US manufacture will enable them to better service markets in North America, Central and South America, Europe and Africa.
"The Seeker provides unparalleled observational capabilities over both austere environments and populated urban areas," said Seeker CEO David Pohlman.
"To ensure the quality of the Seeker's construction meets the demand of its operators, we are very pleased to have a partner [Erickson] whose dedication to excellence assures us of producing a top-quality aircraft."
According to Pohlman, the Erickson move will complement Australian production rather than replace it.
"A better way to describe the Erickson deal regarding Seabird is ...'in addition to, not instead of'," he told Australian Flying. "Seabird has limitations to production capacity, namely labor availability in a small town, and facility size.
"Erickson gives the company the volume production capacity for Seekers we think the market will demand, and we expect that demand will far exceed Seabird's production capacity.
"The company's intent is for the state of design for the Seeker to remain Australian. Seabird Aviation Australia Pty Ltd will produce Seekers to the greatest extent they are capable of while maintaining the SB7L-360 type data, and will conduct research and development to keep the aircraft updated with the latest technology for relevance to customers and market demands."
The Seeker is a single-engined light observational aircraft conceived and developed by Seabird Aviation in Hervey Bay. Aircraft currently fly missions in Australia, Jordan, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Tanzania, UAE and the USA.