Business & GA

Israel special - Gulfstream's take-over of Galaxy gives boost to IAI's business jet line

Israel Aerospace Industries is keen to build on its its partnership with Gulfstream, which has seen it deliver around 200 green business jets since the US company bought IAI's US-based Galaxy Aerospace marketing arm and its Astra SPX and Galaxy programmes in 2001.

Since the takeover, IAI has developed a successor to the mid-size Astra - the G150, which was certificated in 2005. A replacement for the super mid-size G200, formerly the Galaxy, could be on the cards, although no announcement has been made.

production increases

Thanks to the power of Gulfstream's brand and marketing muscle and the surge in business aviation throughout the world, annual production has been rising steadily, more than doubling between 2005 and 2007 to 57 aircraft. That figure is set to rise to around 70 in 2008.

IAI completes most of the structural work on the aircraft in-house, although the aft fuselage for the G200 is produced by Romania's RomAero and Denel of South Africa makes the G150's empennage. Aircraft are flown green to Gulfstream's outfitting centre at Dallas Love Field in Texas.

IAI and Gulfstream have been talking about other projects, including a multirole version of the G550, with an underbelly tank to allow the aircraft to double as a refuelling aircraft.