Italy to develop a C4ISTAR Gulfstream G550

The Italian Ministry of Defence has published its latest multi-year planning document for 2020 - 2022 (Documento Programmatico Pluriennale 2020-2022) showing a major boost to its defense budget.

One of the priorities is the C4ISTAR platform (Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Information/Intelligence, Surveillance and TARgeting) that is based on the Gulfstream G550. The planning document does not reveal how many aircraft Italy plans to order, but the budget of the program is 1.23 billion euro (USD 1.45 billion). The funding will start in fiscal year 2021.

This new C4ISTAR platform should be equipped with modern sensors for real-time sharing of information. Not only to collect and share data and information more efficiently, but also battle management for the digital battlefield. This, because wars and conflicts are not longer fought with bullets and projectiles.

The Aeronautica Militare (AMI, Italian Air Force) already operates two Gulfstream E-550A (Gulfstream G550) Conformal Airborne Early Warning (CAEW) aircraft (serials MM62293 and MM62303). The aircraft were purchased from Israel’s Israel Aerospace Industries in 2012 as part of a swap deal under which Israel purchased 30 Aermacchi (now Leonardo) M-346 advanced jet trainers.

Photo: Johan Mulder