Italian Air Force to get Gulfstream G550 aircraft with airborne intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare mission systems

Aviation Defense News December 2020 aerospace air force industry
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The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on December 15 that the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Italy of Gulfstream G550 Aircraft with Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare (AISREW) Mission Systems and related equipment for an estimated cost of $500 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale.

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Italian Air Force to get Gulfstream G550 Gulfstream G550 (Picture source: Gulfstream Aerospace)

The Government of Italy has requested to buy articles and services to support the integration of 2 Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare (AISREW) mission systems onto 2 Italian Ministry of Defense provided G550 aircraft consisting of 4 Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems – Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) (2 installed, 2 spares); 3 Embedded/GPS/INS (EGI) with GPS security devices, airborne (2 installed, 1 spare); and 4 RIO Communications Intelligence Systems (2 installed, 2 spares).

Also included are Missile Warning Sensors, AN/ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispenser Sets (CMDS), MX-20HD Electro-Optical and Infra-Red systems, Osprey 50 AESA Radars, AISREW ISR equipment, Secure Communications equipment, Identification Friend or Foe Systems, 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 $500 million.

The proposed sale supports and complements the ongoing efforts of Italy to modernize its airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare capability and increases interoperability between the U.S. Air Force and the Italian Air Force (ITAF).

The principal contractor will be L3Harris, Greenville, TX. Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of up to 6 additional U.S. contractor representatives to Italy for a duration of one year to support equipment familiarization.