• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

MC-55A “Peregrine”

The MC-55A is a first of type modified Gulfstream G550 aircraft ith mission systems incorporated by L3 Harris USA. The project is primarily a developmental Foreign Military Sales acquisition through the United States Air Force. The aircraft have inherited the name "Peregrine" – a falcon bird of prey – which is a name originally used by Gulfstream in the 1980s for a single-engine business jet (and later a military training aircraft). The provenance of the "MC-55" designator is unknown. Probably the "M" is Multi-Mission, the "C" is Cargo, and the "55" is from G550.

On 26 June 2017 the US State Department made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia for Gulfstream G550 Aircraft with Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare (AISREW) mission systems. The estimated cost is $1.3 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on June 23, 2017.

The Government of Australia requested the possible sale of up to five (5) Gulfstream G-550 aircraft modified to integrate Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare (AISREW) mission systems, Global Positioning System (GPS) capability, secure communications, aircraft defensive systems; spares, including whole life costs of airborne and ground segments; aircraft modification and integration; ground systems for data processing and crew training; ground support equipment; publications and technical data; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; flight test and certification; and other related elements of logistical and program support.

This sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major contributor to political stability, security, and economic development in the Western Pacific. Australia is an important Major non-NATO Ally and partner that contributes significantly to peacekeeping and humanitarian operations around the world. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist our ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability.

The proposed sale supports and complements the ongoing efforts of Australia to modernize its Electronic Warfare capability and increases interoperability between the U.S. Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Australia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.

On 18 March 2019 Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP and Minister for Defence Industry, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, announced the acquisition of four modified Gulfstream G550 aircraft – to be designated the MC-55A “Peregrine” - for the Royal Australian Air Force. Minister Pyne said the $2.46 billion acquisition would enable Defence to actively strengthen electronic warfare support to naval, air and land forces for operations in complex electromagnetic environments.

"The Peregrine is a new airborne electronic warfare capability that will be integrated into Defence's joint warfighting networks, providing a critical link between platforms, including the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, E-7A Wedgetail, EA-18G Growler, Navy’s surface combatants and amphibious assault ships and ground assets to support the warfighter,” Minister Pyne said.

“The aircraft will be based at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia – yet another piece in a broader Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance precinct being developed at the Super Base, which is already home to our Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. RAAF Base Edinburgh will also serve as the headquarters for our unmanned Tritons and armed unmanned Reaper variant.”

"This capability and the people who operate it will bring Air Force a step closer to becoming a fully networked fifth-generation force and further exploit the joint combat multiplier effects on exercises and operations," Minister Pyne said.

Minister Reynolds said the Liberal National Government remains committed to opening up new opportunities for Australian small and medium enterprises in the defence industry. “About $425 million will be spent with Australian companies during the acquisition phase of the project, including $257 million to be invested in new facilities at RAAF Base Edinburgh,” Minister Reynolds said. “There will be further significant opportunities for Australian industry, estimated to be over $2 billion, in the sustainment of the aircraft over the 25 years life-of-type.”

In June 2018, the US DoD awarded L3 Technologies (Greenville, TX) a US$83m (A$112m) contract for the upgrade of four Gulfstream G550 business jets to the MC-55A standard for the RAAF and this contract is set to run through to until August 2021. Work on the MC-55A Peregrine programme is being carried out at L3’s Greenville, Texas facility and at Gulfstream in Savannah, Georgia. The program has been managed through the USAF 645th Aeronautical Systems Group who specialise in the acquisition, modification and support of special purpose aircraft. Apart from airframe modifications to accommodate mission systems and secure communications equipment, the work also includes installation of a self-protection suite, and ground-based data processing systems.

Italy, Israel and Singapore operate Gulfstream G550s modified by IAI with large conformal antennas and other enhancements in the AEW&C role, and the US Navy has also ordered a similarly configured aircraft for range-control work. Various other special-mission G550s serve with the US government and other countries.

The four aircraft were acquired in two tranches (2+2) and were incrementally upgraded to maintain commonality with US-developed systems. The first two "green" Gulfstream G550 airframes were ordered in January 2016 and were registered in the US as N540GA and N542GD and were followed by N584GA in late 2018. The fourth airframe was not initially identified. Originally planned as 5 units, the total was subsequently revised to 4 airframes/systems. This project will replace the Airborne ISREW capability currently provided by the Air Force’s Orion to support intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, kinetic and non-kinetic joint effects across all levels of conflict and all operating environments. Subject to Parliamentary approvals, construction was planned to commence in late 2019 and be completed by early 2023. During 2021-22 the first three MC-55A airframe modifications continued with the fourth aircraft inducted by last quarter 2021. Construction of the Initial Operating Facility at RAAF Base Edinburgh was forecast for completion in quarter-2 2022.

The Department of Defence (Defence) sought approval from the Committee to proceed with the AIR555 Phase 1 Airborne Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Electronic Warfare Capability Facilities Works Project. The project proposes to deliver works at the following four locations to support the incoming MC-55A Peregrine Airborne Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Electronic Warfare capability:

1. RAAF Base Edinburgh (South Australia)
2. RAAF Base Darwin (Northern Territory)
3. RAAF Base Townsville (Queensland)
4. The Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands

The estimated cost of the construction project was $293.65 million (excluding GST). The project was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works on 16 June 2020.

The purpose of the AIR555 Phase 1 Airborne Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Electronic Warfare Capability Facilities Works Project is to provide purpose built facilities and infrastructure to support the introduction into service of the MC-55A Peregrine Airborne Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Electronic Warfare capability (Peregrine).

In their submission Defence stated that the key drivers of the project were: the number and timing of the delivery of Peregrine capability including aircraft and ground systems; the need to deliver key initial facilities to enable Defence to complete ICT integration activities prior to the first Peregrine aircraft arriving; and the need to support the Peregrine achieving Full Operating Capability once all aircraft have been delivered and all associated operating personnel are deployed in their roles.

Defence told the Committee that "the Peregrine project was approved by government in 2017", aligning with the government's Defence White Paper 2016 and the 2020 Defence Strategic Update "to provide enhanced intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare capability that are integrated with the latest generation of weapon systems."

At the public hearing Defence explained the reasoning behind the choice of locations for the facilities. The operational concept for Peregrine includes a main operating base at RAAF Base Edinburgh and three forward operating bases located at RAAF bases Townsville and Darwin and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands territory. The main operating base is where the operational planning, command, data handling, administration, training and sustainment is planned to occur. These facilities have been master planned to integrate into the existing intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance precinct at RAAF Base Edinburgh. The forward operating bases will enable Peregrine to project into Australia's area of interest and perform its operational function. These facilities will include a capacity for data handling, limited operational planning, storage of self-protection flares for operational use and minor aircraft maintenance.

Defence told the Committee that with regards to the project timing, the "actual facilities need to be established in time to ensure that, through the fit-outs, all of the facilities—and that includes maintenance facilities, computer infrastructure, all of the administration and intelligence areas et cetera—are ready to go so that when the aircraft arrives we can conduct tests and evaluation of the whole system."

In response to the Committee’s questions regarding the impact of a delay on the project , Defence stated that "there are quite a lot of interconnected pieces, so the delay to the facilities will directly impact our ability to conduct [system] tests and hence delay the utility of our aircraft when they arrive." Defence told the Committee that it was expecting to commence construction in September 2020, "pending expediency, with an expected completion date at the end of December 2024."