John Fedup
The Bunker Group
I would think Canada's AEW requirement will be SAAB as well, not US, Bombardier platform, and increasing acceptance by friendly allies.
Military Aviation News and Discussion
- Thread starter ngatimozart
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OldTex
Well-Known Member
I think that will be increasingly likely, especially with the use of the Bombardier airframe offering local content (read that as election votes). In the European sense an aircraft with transcontinental range (like the E-3 and E-7) may turn out to be overkill. For Europe it would not need the space for a relief crew so a Bombardier based solution starts to look more suitable.
SolarisKenzo
Well-Known Member
Israeli-based solutions are not an option in Europe right now.
I would imagine if a country really wanted the G550 platform, they would be available on the 2nd hand market. Not sure why you would though other than commonality with an existing fleet.
I'm pretty sure that was why the Italians bought some spare G550s just before the line closed. They had two G550 AEW aircraft, & were planning to buy more & add some other EW aircraft, including two or three based on the USAF EA-37. It made sense to base everything on the same platform, both to simplify logistics & reduce development cost. I think they have about 10 G550s in, or being modified to, three configurations, of which five will be AEW & two similar to the Australian MC-55.
OldTex
Well-Known Member
Perhaps this combination of GA-ASI UAV and SAAB radar suite might be an alternative to be considered for future AEW capabilities. It could be part of a hi-lo mix of manned and unmanned systems to provide a layered sensor and reporting capability.
SolarisKenzo
Well-Known Member
Italy bought a total of 11 G550s, 10 in "operational" versions and one test bed.
In particular:
- 6 CAEW (only 2 actually converted by Israel, the program was suspended by the Governmen)
- 2 JAMMS (being converted in the US)
- 2 EA (Electronic Attacks, being converted in the US)
- 1 G550 acquired by the Air Force and to be used by Leonardo as a test-bed
The CAEW program is currently suspended since Israel is involved.
FormerDirtDart
Well-Known Member
Will be interesting to see how this pans out. Not really sure who they would be doing final assembly for, and Embraer is also in talks to look at local production/assembly/maintenance in India
Locally, KSA is looking to replace 30+ C-130Hs, while UAE operates a combined half dozen C-130H & L-100 airframes. UAE also has 5 C-295 & 4 C-235 which could factor in to C-390 acquisition. The also have 8 C-17 which would seem to negate any need for strategic lift from a C-390 fleet. Last year Morocco announced they selected the C-390 to replace at least some of their C-130H fleet (16). And Egypt has been cited as a potential C-390 customer but they ordered some C130Js a few years ago, but they do have a couple redheaded stepchild Il-76MFs
breakingdefense.com
Locally, KSA is looking to replace 30+ C-130Hs, while UAE operates a combined half dozen C-130H & L-100 airframes. UAE also has 5 C-295 & 4 C-235 which could factor in to C-390 acquisition. The also have 8 C-17 which would seem to negate any need for strategic lift from a C-390 fleet. Last year Morocco announced they selected the C-390 to replace at least some of their C-130H fleet (16). And Egypt has been cited as a potential C-390 customer but they ordered some C130Js a few years ago, but they do have a couple redheaded stepchild Il-76MFs
Embraer drops proposal for Saudi C-390 final assembly, shifts to UAE - Breaking Defense
“To be honest with you, my perspective is that for the C-390, there is no way to have two completion centers in the region,” said Bosco da Costa Jr., the CEO of Embraer’s defense business.
breakingdefense.com
That's a bit of a bugger. So, what next? Start talking to SAAB? That'd either muck up the common fleet idea or necessitate integration of Erieye onto yet another new platform. SAAB has an excellent track record in doing that, though.
SolarisKenzo
Well-Known Member
No One knows but I had 2 different options showed to me:
- to wait for the international situation to cool down (read: wait for the anti-Israeli sentiment to deflate a bit) and have the last 4 CAEWs converted in some years, in the meantime we will have 6 planes operational...
- to equip the 4 aircrafts with european tech
The Air Force is putting resources on having the 2x JAMMS and 2x EA versions converted right now so the other CAEWs can wait since we luckily have 2 in service converted before COVID.
Airframes 14-11 and 14-12 were converted, 14-13 onwards not converted.
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One of the non converted G550s CAEW in the current state, you can see it's being used for VIP transport and other roles.
MM 14-13
Here a G550 CAEW
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