Gulfstream in Uniform : Part VI

Gulfstream V/550 : Electronic warfare

Gulfstream and IAI rolled out the first Gulfstream V "Shavit" in early 2005, this was followed with an official hand over to the Israeli Air & Space Force (IASF) in June the same year. The conversion from a green Gulfstream V to a signal/intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft was taken up at IAI's Tel Aviv Ben Gurion airport facility. Only three Gulfstream Vs undertook the conversion, all future projects were to be on the Gulfstream G550 airframe.

In September 2006 Gulfstream delivered the first of two G550s to Tel Aviv, this was to be the first  Conformal Airborne Early Warning (CAEW) aircraft that the IASF would be adding to the Shavit fleet. The new CAEW aircraft were locally designated the Eitam. All five aircraft are flown by the Nachshon squadron at Nevatim Airbase, Israeli have announced at least one more Eitam will join the fleet.

Singapore was to be the next Air arm to take delivery of a IAI's Gulfstream G550 based CAEW airframe. Four frames undertook conversion and fly with 111sq based at Tengah Air Base, deliveries started in 2008 and by 2010 they were fully operational. IAI provided Italy with two airframes, the deal which saw 30 M346 trainers going in the opposite direction to Israel was completed in 2016.

The Australian Government awarded L3 Technologies a contract for two Gulfstream 550s to be converted to electronic warfare support configuration, these are expected to be the first of five MC-55As that the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will operate from RAAF Edinburgh.

The US Navy have recently announced that VX-30 at NAS Point Mugu, California will be operating a NC-37B for missile range support. Although N544GD is painted in full "Bloodhounds" markings it is expected to be some time in 2021 before it is flying in its full operational capability as 166379.

Not wanting to miss out on the Department of Defence (DOD) gravy train, BAE Systems has partnered with L3 Technologies to integrate the Compass Call system from a Lockheed EC-130H into the Gulfstream EC-37B. the Electronic Warfare system could see as many at 14 EC-37Bs required to replace the ageing Hercules based at Davis Monthan, Arizona.

As the Gulfstream G550 nears its conclusion, we could certainly see some of the final frames being used for a number of roles that will see them wearing military uniform.

Photo by Ian Harding

Photo by Bob Holland

US Navy G550 CAEW spotted

Thanks to Scramble, a picture has come to light from an anonymous source with no details of where or when it was taken. 166379 (coded 100) is in the colours of VX-30 "Bloodhounds" who currently operate 5 NP-3D Orions at Point Mugu NAS. Designated NC-37B, it is likely to take "some time" for all the equipment to be fitted and probably a while to identify the frame number.

Update: Best guess at the moment is that this is con 5544 which is still shown as N544GD.



Bumpy Gee Twos arrive in the UK today

A pair of Gulfstream 2s arrived at Mildenhall today from Lajes in the Azores just 15 minutes apart. Operated by L-3 Communications for the Missile Defence Agency. Believed to be here in connection with Exercise Formidable Shield. Thanks to Dave Lythgoe for sending me these pics. Fortunately, I was standing next to him and my efforts can be seen on the link top right. A wonderful sight.

N779LC (088) arriving as HALO 4 and N178B (125) as HALO 2



Modified G4

G4 N338MM (1076) arrived at Luton today as "Noble Zero One". Registered to Tenax Aerospace , it now sports some modifications that we probably shouldn't know too much about. Arrived from Trapani in Sicily so may have a US Navy connection. Many thanks to Dave Lythgoe for the shot and for braving the weather.



N30LX gains some new bumps

G3 N30LX (438) belonging to Lockheed Martin has found itself a new role and some new bumps. Serial number 438 was originally delivered to Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. (founded in 1841) as N1841D. D&B provides analytics that assist corporate managers with their strategic decision making. 33 years on, this airframe has been modified by its current owner to collect data that can be used by military leaders to make their strategic decisions. (Thanks to FK Larkin for the history) More details can be found at lockheedmartin.com

via Lockheed Martin



RAAF to receive AEW G550s

It has been widely reported that Australia will receive 2 modified G550s. They are believed to be replacements for elderly AP-3C Orions and should be delivered by the end of 2017. Australia will join Israel, Singapore and Italy in operating this version. See www.ainonline.com

G550AEW of the Israeli AF at Farnborough in 2008



Bumpy Gee Two in the UK

One of the highlights of this year's Air Tattoo at Fairford was this Gulfstream 2 N510AG (159).

See also www.flickr.com/photos/bob-holland/5950671519

and www.flickr.com/photos/bob-holland/5951223696

credit: Graham Wasey