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IAI Shavit / Gulfstream G550 CAEW

IAI / Gulfstream · Airborne Early Warning (AEW&C) · Israel · Modern (1992–2009)

IAI Shavit / Gulfstream G550 CAEW — Airborne Early Warning (AEW&C)
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The IAI Eitam (Hebrew: True Falcon; also known as Gulfstream G550 CAEW or Nachshon-Eitam) is an Israeli airborne early-warning + control aircraft — IAI's conversion of the Gulfstream G550 business jet with a four-sided active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar. IAI designed the Eitam in 2002-2006; first delivery 2006. The aircraft entered Israeli Air Force service in 2006. Operators: Israeli Air Force, Italian Air Force, Singapore Air Force, + Australian Defence Force.

The Eitam uses the standard Gulfstream G550 platform: 2 × Rolls-Royce BR710 turbofans (15,385 lbf each), maximum cruise speed 941 km/h, range 10,860 km, service ceiling 15,545 m. The IAI conversion adds the Elta EL/W-2085 AESA radar — four conformal arrays on the fuselage sides providing full 360° coverage without the rotating disc of the E-3 Sentry or E-2 Hawkeye. Crew: 2 pilots + 6-8 mission specialists. The smaller airframe + AESA arrangement provide AEW&C capability at half the operating cost of the E-3 Sentry.

Eitam service includes IAF + Italian Air Force AEW&C operations + Singapore RSAF replacement of the older E-2 Hawkeye. 2 Eitams are operated by the IAF + 4 by Italian Aeronautica Militare + 4 by Singapore RSAF + 2 by Australia (under designation MC-55A Peregrine, though the Australian version is more SIGINT-focused than AEW). The aircraft is the most-successful business-jet-based AEW&C system worldwide + a major IAI export success. About 12 Eitams have been built; the aircraft remains in low-rate production for additional export orders.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The IAI Eitam is an Israeli flying radar plane. Its Hebrew name Eitam means True Falcon. IAI built it from the Gulfstream G550 business jet. The Eitam first flew in 2006 and entered Israeli service the same year. Only 12 Eitams have been built so far.

The Eitam is 96 feet long with a 93-foot wingspan, smaller than a Boeing 737. Two Rolls-Royce BR710 jet engines each make 15,385 pounds of thrust. Top speed is 585 mph, faster than most race cars. The Eitam can climb to 51,000 feet, higher than airliners.

The Eitam has 4 flat-panel radar antennas on the sides of the body, providing 360-degree radar coverage. The older E-3 Sentry and E-2 Hawkeye use spinning radar discs instead. The Eitam's 4-side radar is faster, more reliable, and lighter. The Eitam has 6 to 8 mission specialists working at radar screens.

Israel, Italy, Singapore, and Australia all fly Eitams. The Eitam costs about half as much to fly as the older E-3 Sentry. Singapore replaced its E-2 Hawkeyes with Eitams. Australia uses its 2 Eitams for radio-signal collection, with the special name MC-55A Peregrine.

Fun Facts

  • The IAI Eitam is an Israeli flying radar plane.
  • The Eitam is built from the Gulfstream G550 business jet.
  • Eitam means True Falcon in Hebrew.
  • The Eitam is 96 feet long, smaller than a Boeing 737.
  • Top speed is 585 mph, faster than most race cars.
  • The Eitam has 4 flat-panel radars covering all directions.
  • Israel, Italy, Singapore, and Australia fly Eitams.

Kids’ Questions

Why 4 flat radars?

Most flying radar planes (like the E-3 Sentry) have a spinning disc on top of the body, which scans by rotating. The Eitam has 4 flat-panel radars on the body sides instead. Each panel covers 90 degrees, so 4 panels cover all 360 degrees with no moving parts. Flat panels are faster, more reliable, and lighter than spinning discs.

Why a business jet?

The Gulfstream G550 is a fast, long-range business jet usually used for VIPs. IAI saw that the G550 was the right size to fit a radar and 8 to 10 crew inside. Using an existing business jet was cheaper than designing a new airframe. The Eitam costs about half as much to fly as the older Boeing 707-based E-3 Sentry.

What does AEW and C mean?

AEW and C stands for Airborne Early Warning and Control. AEW means watching the sky for enemy planes and missiles from far away. Control means telling friendly fighters where to go to intercept threats. The Eitam can do both, helping smaller air forces like Singapore's and Italy's get big-air-force capabilities for less money.

Variants

G550 CAEW (AEW&C)
Standard AEW&C variant. 8 built for IAF + Italy + Singapore.
MC-55A Peregrine
Australian SIGINT-focused variant. 2 delivered.

Notable Operators

Israeli Air Force (2006-present)
2 aircraft. AEW&C.
Italian Air Force (2016-present)
4 aircraft. AEW&C.
Singapore RSAF (2009-present)
4 aircraft. Replaced E-2 Hawkeye.
Royal Australian Air Force (2024-present)
2 aircraft. SIGINT focus (MC-55A).

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the AESA arrangement compare to the E-3 rotodome?

The Eitam uses 4 conformal AESA panels on the fuselage sides (2 fore, 2 aft) — each covering a 90° arc, providing full 360° instantaneous coverage. The E-3 Sentry uses a single 9.1 m rotating dome that scans mechanically (~6 RPM). Advantages of AESA panels: (1) instantaneous full-area awareness vs E-3's ~10-second refresh, (2) electronic-only beam steering allows multiple simultaneous tracking modes, (3) no rotating mechanism reduces maintenance + improves reliability, (4) lower drag means longer endurance. The cost is reduced antenna gain per array vs the larger E-3 dome — but the AESA gain compensates electronically.

Sources

See Also