Singapore has taken delivery of its first Gulfstream G550 aircraft modified with the Elta Systems airborne early warning and control system aircraft. The country's defence ministry was, as usual, stingy with details and released only one photograph (below).
The MoD would only say that the four aircraft ordered - which unofficial sources estimate would cost the Southeast Asian country around $1 billion in total - have a "sophisticated mission suite that includes an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar", a longer detection range than the E2C Hawkeye, and the ability to "detect, identify and track aerial targets".
Really? Wow, an airborne early warning aircraft with the ability to detect, identify and track aerial targets? Thanks for the insight! Duh.
In any case, Flight understands that aircraft have a similar configuration to the Israeli air force's G550-based conformal AEW (CAEW) aircraft (below), the first two of which entered service in February and May 2008.
Israel Aircraft Industries subsidiary Elta says the CAEW platform offers a mission endurance of 9h when operating at an altitude of 41,000ft (12,500m) and 185km (100nm) from its home base. The aircraft features dual S-band radar arrays at the front and rear, plus L-band sensors on the fuselage side, providing 360° coverage. Israel's configuration has six onboard operator stations (see diagram below).
The modified G550 also has pod-housed electronic support measures equipment, plus satellite communications and line-of-sight datalinks. Elta says the airframe modifications have "minimal impact" on the business jet's performance.
According to a previous statement by Singapore's defence ministry, the G550 AEW aircraft, which will replace its 20-year-old Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeyes, will be delivered between late 2008 and 2010.
The MoD would only say that the four aircraft ordered - which unofficial sources estimate would cost the Southeast Asian country around $1 billion in total - have a "sophisticated mission suite that includes an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar", a longer detection range than the E2C Hawkeye, and the ability to "detect, identify and track aerial targets".Really? Wow, an airborne early warning aircraft with the ability to detect, identify and track aerial targets? Thanks for the insight! Duh.
In any case, Flight understands that aircraft have a similar configuration to the Israeli air force's G550-based conformal AEW (CAEW) aircraft (below), the first two of which entered service in February and May 2008.
Israel Aircraft Industries subsidiary Elta says the CAEW platform offers a mission endurance of 9h when operating at an altitude of 41,000ft (12,500m) and 185km (100nm) from its home base. The aircraft features dual S-band radar arrays at the front and rear, plus L-band sensors on the fuselage side, providing 360° coverage. Israel's configuration has six onboard operator stations (see diagram below).The modified G550 also has pod-housed electronic support measures equipment, plus satellite communications and line-of-sight datalinks. Elta says the airframe modifications have "minimal impact" on the business jet's performance.According to a previous statement by Singapore's defence ministry, the G550 AEW aircraft, which will replace its 20-year-old Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeyes, will be delivered between late 2008 and 2010.
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