USA: Possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia for Gulfstream G550 Aircraft with Airborne ISR and EW (AISREW) mission systems

A G550 with an AISREW system installed under the fuselage

WASHINGTON, Jun. 26, 2017 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia for Gulfstream G550 Aircraft with Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare (AISREW) mission systems. The estimated cost is $1.3 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on June 23, 2017.

The Government of Australia requested the possible sale of up to five (5) Gulfstream G-550 aircraft modified to integrate Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare (AISREW) mission systems, Global Positioning System (GPS) capability, secure communications, aircraft defensive systems; spares, including whole life costs of airborne and ground segments; aircraft modification and integration; ground systems for data processing and crew training; ground support equipment; publications and technical data; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; flight test and certification; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated program cost is $1.3 billion.

News Story: India, Australia net big FMS offers

An Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster in flight (File Photo)

By: Aaron Mehta

WASHINGTON — As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Washington, he is walking away with a new offer for a C-17 aircraft. 

Australia, too, got good news today, as the State Department cleared the sale of up to five Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft worth an estimated $1.3 billion. 

The C-17 sale, worth an estimated $366.2 million, adds to India’s existing fleet of transport aircraft. This likely represents the final C-17 sale to India, as Boeing ended production on new aircraft in 2015.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Think Tank: The Gulfstream G550 and the ADF—plugging the ISR gap

Malcolm Davis

The Australian Defence Force will soon acquire an important new platform that will enhance its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, focusing on electronic intelligence (ELINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) gathering.

The US Defense Department recently revealed that several Gulfstream G550 executive jets will be modified by L-3 Communications Mission Integration in Texas under a under a US$93.6 million USAF foreign military sales (FMS) contract, with the capability being introduced into operational service by the end of next year.

The G550 performance envelope boasts a long range of 6,750nm (12,501km), a high subsonic cruise of Mach 0.885, and a short take-off and landing distance. That makes it a truly strategic platform, able to range far and wide across the Indo-Pacific region to perform vital intelligence gathering and other specialised tasks. It is by definition a high value asset for the ADF.

Although the Australian government is yet to officially comment on the acquisition, it seems highly likely that Australia will follow the lead set by other countries which operate the platform and emphasise the ISR role for the aircraft. A total of 37 states operate nearly 200 aircraft in support of a variety of government and military service special missions ranging from the more mundane executive transport through to more esoteric roles such as strategic reconnaissance, SIGINT and ELINT, and to assist with the development of radar and electronic systems.

News Story: (Australian) Defence confirms $133m project to convert luxury corporate jets into military spy planes

By defence reporter Andrew Greene

Defence has confirmed a $133 million project to convert two luxury corporate jets into state-of-the-art spy planes for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

Shortly after Christmas, the United States entered into a "Foreign Military Sales arrangement" with Australia to modify two Gulfstream G550 business jets, into high-tech surveillance aircraft.

In a statement to the ABC, Defence said: "The aircraft will be modified to provide an airborne intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare capability to support ADF operations.

"Further details on the capability will be provided in the Integrated Investment Program due for release this year with the Defence White Paper."

The ABC has learnt the modified aircraft are due to come into service at the end of next year.

Read the full story at ABC