Aircraft

Israel Aerospace Industries' Elta Systems subsidiary is evaluating the potential demand for a new airborne ground surveillance system based on the Gulfstream G550 business jet, according to general manager Nissim Hadas.

Elta has already delivered two G550-based surveillance variants to the Israeli air force: the airborne integrated signals intelligence platform and the conformal airborne early warning (CAEW) system. The latter is expected to be exhibited in public for the first time at the Farnborough air show later this month.

Noting that the initial strong performance of the two special-mission variants has spurred interest in adapting the G550 for ground surveillance applications, Hadas says the company will design a "multi-sensor" air-to-ground system if there is market demand.

"The G550 is the perfect platform it is very cost-effective and gives super performance," he notes. Additional mission endurance could be achieved by equipping the type for inflight refuelling, adds Elta.

The CAEW design incorporates two radars: a conformal L-band array and an S-band system with antennas in the nose and tail. Elta says this configuration provides 360° coverage with automatic compensation for bank and pitch and no airframe obstruction.

"This is a third-generation AEW system, which is the last step before we offer such a system based on an unmanned platform," says Avishai Izhakian, deputy general manager marketing and business development for Elta's AEW division.