US Air Force wants more Gulfstream jets

The US Air Force issued a request for information (RFI) on August 6 for the procurement of additional Gulfstream G550 twin-engine executive jets. The Air Force wants between two and 40 of these aircraft for conversion to C-37B light transport versions. An unspeciied additional number would be procured for modiication to electronic warfare, command and control and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The Air Force is also interested in acquiring G280 and G650 versions, while the EC-37B electronic warfare version is currently replacing Air Combat Command’s EC-130H Compass Call aircraft assigned to the 55th Electronic Combat Group based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona in a multi-year phased procurement programme.

The FY2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) included $222 million to procure and modify two G550s to replace the two Boeing OC-135B Open Skies aircraft currently operated by the 55th Wing based at Ofutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. However, with Open Skies overlights currently suspended and in the absence of appropriated funding, it is uncertain whether these new aircraft will be procured.

The NDAA also required the Department of Defense to submit a plan to Congress setting out how it could replace current C-135-based ISR aircraft such as the RC-135. David C Isby