QinetiQ upgrades Diamond DA62 MPP to stream live ISR video to ground forces
February 10, 2026
Ground commanders can now receive live, high-resolution video directly from a Diamond Aircraft DA62 Multi-Purpose Platform (MPP), after QinetiQ upgraded the aircraft with a ShotOver electro-optical system and a secure real-time data link.
The enhancement marks a real shift in how light twin-engine surveillance aircraft are employed. Rather than acting solely as airborne collectors of imagery for post-mission analysis, the upgraded DA62 MPP can stream video to ground stations in real time, supporting border security, intelligence gathering, environmental monitoring, search and rescue and maritime patrol operations.
The work, completed at Diamond Aircraft Industries’ facility in Wiener Neustadt, involved close collaboration between QinetiQ GmbH and Diamond’s engineering teams to ensure full compatibility between the sensor payload, avionics and communications systems.
Integrating sensors and data links without compromising airworthiness
The upgrade centred on the installation of advanced communications equipment, a high-resolution electro-optical camera and a secure data transmission architecture. The newly fitted ShotOver camera and mission system form the core of the capability, helping operators on the ground to observe unfolding events as they happen.
Crucially, the integration was carried out without changing the aircraft’s certified flight characteristics. Calibration and testing focused on seamless interaction between the sensor package, Garmin G1000 NXi cockpit avionics and mission management systems, maintaining configuration integrity and safety margins.
Mathias Mensing, Head of Programme Management at QinetiQ GmbH, described the development as reinforcing the aircraft’s operational flexibility within its fleet, noting that combining the DA62MPP’s efficiency and range with modern sensors and secure data links provides “a powerful tool for real-time intelligence gathering”.
Julian Prikril, Team Leader Project Management at Diamond Aircraft Industries, emphasised that modernising an operational platform while preserving airworthiness standards had been central to the programme.
The DA62 MPP, a light twin optimised for long-endurance ISR missions
The DA62 MPP is derived from Diamond’s DA62 light twin-engine aircraft, built from composite materials and powered by two Austro Engine AE330 turbocharged diesel engines operating on Jet-A1 fuel.
In special mission configuration, the aircraft offers endurance of up to ten hours, a service ceiling of 20,000ft and fuel consumption markedly lower than turboprop surveillance platforms.
Its design allows for external sensor installations on the nose and belly, as well as internal mission consoles and equipment racks. The composite airframe offers corrosion resistance and durability, while the Garmin-equipped cockpit provides modern flight management capability.
These characteristics have positioned the DA62 MPP between smaller piston twins and larger turboprop ISR aircraft, offering extended loiter time and lower direct operating costs while retaining meaningful payload flexibility.
How modularity allows the DA62 MPP to adapt across mission types
A defining feature of the DA62 MPP is its modularity. Mission systems can be configured for maritime surveillance, search and rescue, environmental assessment or border patrol without structural redesign.
The recent integration demonstrates that additional sensor packages and secure communications links can be incorporated without degrading performance or requiring major re-certification work. This is particularly relevant as governments increasingly demand adaptable airborne platforms capable of responding to multiple mission types.
The aircraft’s capacity for live data transmission also aligns with growing emphasis on network-enabled operations, where imagery and sensor feeds are integrated into wider command architectures rather than retained onboard.
Greece adopts DA62 MPP for civil security and disaster response
The upgrade follows broader adoption of the DA62 MPP platform in Europe. In 2025, Diamond delivered three DA62 MPP aircraft to Greece’s Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection under the AIGIS resilience programme.
Those aircraft were configured with electro-optical and infrared cameras, mobile phone localisation systems, mission management software and both line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight data links.
The Greek acquisition highlighted the aircraft’s application beyond traditional military ISR roles, supporting wildfire monitoring, coastal surveillance and disaster response operations. The contract included ground stations, training and long-term support, signalling confidence in the platform’s long-term utility.
As defence and civil security budgets come under increasing scrutiny, light twin ISR platforms are gaining renewed attention.
Analysts note that compared with turboprop special mission aircraft, the DA62 MPP offers lower acquisition and operating costs while maintaining operational endurance suitable for persistent surveillance.
