The Italian Air Force has been working to acquire a well-rounded set of assets that will enable it to operate effectively alongside allies in both Europe and Asia, and has funded the purchase of an 25 additional F-35s, bringing Italy’s total planned fleet to 115.
Europe’s air forces need to relearn vital suppression and destruction of enemy air defense skills in a bid to restore their air power advantage, experts insist.
BAE Systems and L3Harris Technologies has delivered the first EC-37B Compass Call aircraft to the U.S. Air Force for developmental and operational testing.
The 4-hr. flight of the modified Gulfstream G550 business jet from Waco, Texas, begins the L3Harris’ flight test phase of the Compass Call mission system.
The Air Force plans to use the EC-37B as a pathfinder for a new approach to the airborne electronic attack mission, but the service is not sure it will work.
The U.S. State Department has approved the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Italy of two special-mission versions of the Gulfstream G550 business jet configured for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
A Gulfstream G550, powered by a sustainable alternative jet fuel covered the 3591 nautical miles in seven hours and 13 minutes, at an average speed of Mach 0.85.
The G550 model was rolled out in 2001 as the SP (Special Performance) version of the Gulfstream GV and received FAA certification in 2003. The aircraft has a maximum range of 6,750 nm and a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.885. It can seat up to 19 passengers and sleeps up to eight.