It looks like a small attack aircraft, but it is being marketed as a an ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) asset–kind of a manned drone.

“Weaver also indicated that the suitability for maritime surveillance could lead to sales with the Coast Guard.” (emphasis applied)

Probably ravings of a delusional company executive, but it is a bold move on the part of Textron, maker of Cessna aircraft.

Here is the Company’s web page. Five of the six missions they suggest are Dept. of Homeland Security Missions–Border Security, Maritime Security, Counter-Narcotics, Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Response, Aerospace Control Alert (the CG sort of does this around DC). Somehow I think it is doubtful the DHS will start getting their own “fighters.” That will almost certainly be how they would be seen–they have six underwing hardpoints.

It is a straight winged twin engine jet and probably has much in common with the Cessna Citation family of business jets. Reportedly it will fly 400+ knots, go out 150 miles, loiter for 5 hours, and return while carrying 3,000 pounds of ISR equipment, at a cost of “only” $3000/hour (how does that compare with the HC-144?) Didn’t we just give up our jets? And I think they had a toilet for those longer missions.