Australia’s surveillance and electronic warfare capabilities received a boost with the arrival of the first of four L3Harris MC-55A Peregrine aircraft at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Edinburgh in South Australia on 22 January.
The intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare (ISREW) platform is derived from a Gulfstream G550 business jet featuring extensive modifications by L3Harris to support its specialised mission sets.
These include a distinctive “canoe” fairing on the forward belly, analogous to that of Israel’s special electronic mission G550, also known as the Shavit signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft.
It also incorporates a bulbous tail-cone fairing similar to that seen on both the conformal early warning variant and the US Air Force’s EA-37B Compass Call EW aircraft. Multiple antennas are visible on the upper and lower fuselage, as well as beneath the wings.
These alternations allow the MC-55 to perform a wide range of EW, SIGINT and ISR missions.
An Australian Department of Defence statement issued on 24 January, which confirmed the aircraft’s arrival, said: “Integrated within a focused and agile force, the MC-55A ensures the RAAF is ready to detect, disrupt, deter and, if necessary, defeat threats – underpinning the Australian Defence Force’s commitment to readiness and resilience.”
The MC-55As will be operated by the RAAF’s 10 Squadron, which previously flew a pair of SIGINT-configured Lockheed AP-3C (EW) Orion turboprop aircraft. These were withdrawn from service in December 2023.
Group Captain James Collisson, Officer Commanding of 92 Wing – the RAAF’s ISR wing – said: “It gives us a good aspect in the strategic space to monitor our areas of interest and surrounding maritime regions, while also providing opportunities to work closely with our partners, including US and British counterparts, and ensure effective integration in the intelligence-sharing domain.”
92 Wing also oversees Australia’s fleet of Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton unmanned maritime surveillance aircraft and Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
The US Department of State approved the sale of up to five modified G550 aircraft in June 2017. In March 2019, it was announced Australia would acquire four MC-55As for A$2.46 billion (US$1.75 billion) under Project Air 555.
Under the original schedule, the RAAF was set to receive its first aircraft by the end of 2023, with an initial operational capability anticipated in 2024. However, the project experienced significant delays due to airworthiness certification required for the extensive changes to the G550’s outer mould line, as well as challenges encountered during initial installation of the sensor suite.
In addition to Edinburgh as its primary operating base, three forward operating locations are being prepared at RAAF Bases Townsville and Darwin, as well as the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
These sites will enable Australia to monitor critical maritime approaches, highlighting Canberra’s focus on contested chokepoints and long-range threat detection. The MC-55As could also potentially deploy overseas for surveillance missions.
by Roy Choo
