NEWTOWN, Conn. -- According to Israel Defense, the second of two Gulfstream G550 Conformal Airborne Early Warning (CAEW) platforms was recently delivered to Italy. Delivery of the aircraft, whose mission capabilities are powered by the Israel Aerospace Industries Elta ELW-2085 early warning and control mission system, completes the Israel/Italy Reciprocal Procurement Agreement signed by the two governments in 2012.
The ELW-2085 CAEW integrates the data of a highly modified G550's onboard sensors, including radar, IFF, signal intelligence (SIGINT), electronics intelligence (ELINT), communications intelligence (COMINT), self-protection system, and radar warning receiver data. Awareness is provided in 360° by the CAEW system's L-band, active electronically scanned phased array radar. The CAEW's signature radar's conformal arrays are distinctive as two large, cigar shaped protuberances on either side of the G550's body.
Current operators of the G550-based CAEW platform include Israel, Italy, and Singapore. Italy's first ELW-2085 G550 CAEW was delivered last year.
