Royal Australian Air Force could receive new Gulfstream G550 aircraft for ISR missions.

“Work will be performed at Greenville, Texas, and is expected to be complete by November 30, 2017.” No additional details were given by the Australian government or the US DoD about the nature of the work, or about the number of aircraft involved. According to sources, the contract could involve two aircraft dedicated to electronic intelligence (ELINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) missions.

The Gulfstream G550 is a jet which is able to fly more than 12 hours nonstop, and over 12,000 kilometres.

L-3’s Mission Integration unit is, among others, specialized “in the modernisation and maintenance of aircraft of all sizes, and the study, design, development, and integration of special-mission systems for military and commercial applications”.

The G550 is already used in various special missions variants, most notably in both Conformal Airborne Early Warning and Special Electronic Missions Aircraft ELINT forms with the Israeli Air Force. Singapore also operates four G550 CAEWs, while the type has also been ordered by Italy for AEW&C missions and the US Navy.