MELBOURNE — The first of four business jets heavily modified by L3Harris into airborne surveillance and electronic warfare aircraft for the Australian military has arrived at a base in the south of the country.
The MC-55A Peregrine Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare (ISREW) aircraft, based on the Gulfstream G550 business jet, arrived at RAAF Base Edinburgh late last week, according to a joint media release issued on Saturday by the offices of Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy.
“This advanced capability reinforces Australia’s national defence posture and contributes to deterrence. Integrated within a focused and agile force, the MC-55A ensures the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is ready to detect, disrupt, deter, and if necessary defeat threats – underpinning the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) commitment to readiness and resilience,” the release added.
Marles said that MC-55A represents a significant step forward in strengthening Australia’s ability to monitor and protect its strategic interests, including its key maritime approaches.
“This capability will integrate seamlessly with allied and partner systems, enabling the Air Force and ADF to share intelligence with security partners like the United Kingdom and United States – reinforcing our collective security and enhancing regional stability.”
The MC-55As will serve with the RAAF’s 10 Squadron at Edinburgh, which is also home to Australia’s fleet of Northrop-Grumman MQ-4C Triton unmanned maritime surveillance aircraft and its Boeing-made P-8A Poseidon multi-mission anti-submarine aircraft.
Jason Lambert, L3Harris’ sector president for the Peregrine, called the plane “a force multiplier in delivering critical data for long-range targeting, regional deployments and effective mission planning” in a company news release.
Australia approved the acquisition of four MC-55A aircraft under Project AIR 555 in 2017, through a Foreign Military Sales case with the US Air Force that included significant external modification to the baseline G550 aircraft. The most prominent of these is a long canoe-shaped housing for ISREW equipment under its forward fuselage, as well as numerous antennas throughout its fuselage and wings.
The changes also included additional power supplied to the aircraft and a modifications the Rolls Royce engines, cooling capabilities and an increase to the empty weight for the airframe, according to a 2023 Australian National Audit Office report.
L3Harris says that follow-on aircraft will remain in the USAF’s possession while supporting Australian training and pre-delivery requirements and the company has established a field service team based in Australia to work alongside local industry partners for in-country support.
