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World Defense & Security News - Australia
 
 
Royal Australian Air Force could receive new Gulfstream G550 aircraft for ISR missions
 
Australia reportedly launched a project to probably provide the Royal Australian Air Force with new special mission aircraft, according to several sources. The program became public knowledge after the US Department of Defense released few details about a US$93 mn foreign military sale for "Australia Government G550 aircraft procurement and maintenance".
     
Royal Australian Air Force could receive new Gulfstream G550 aircraft for ISR missions 640 001Israeli Air Force G550 SEMA - Special Electronic Missions Aircraft
(Credit: Gulfstream)
     
“L-3 Communications Mission Integration, Greenville, Texas, has been awarded a $93,632,287 firm fixed-price undefinitised contract action task order (1648) for Australia Government G550 aircraft procurement and maintenance,” the US DoD announced on Dec. 28, 2016.

“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.