정찰기 이탈리아, 걸프스트림 비즈제트기 3기를 EC-37 전자전기형으로 개조 계획중

[위종민]

이탈리아는 2012년에 IAI제 컨포멀 레이더를 장착한 AEW형 걸프스트림 G550 2기를 구입한 뒤, 2020년 12월 8기 추가구매를 결정했는데 신호정보 수집용 ISR/EW 2기 외에  전자전형과 조기경보형이 각각 몇 대인지는 아직까지 불확실했나봅니다. 6기중 3기(2기+1기 옵셥)를 EC-37 컴퍼스 콜에 준하는 전자전기로, 3기를 조기경보기로 개조하겠다는 계획을 발표했네요. 

EC-37은 EC-130H의 전자장비를 걸프스트림 G550에 떼다 붙인 기체로 이탈리아는 현재 자국의 걸프스트림을 미국의 기체와 동일한 표준으로 업데이트할 수 있도록 노력중이라고 합니다. 

이탈리아 공군의 자체 조기경보기는 G550 2기, 신호정보수집기는 킹 에어 350 2기, 전자전기는 SEAD용 토네이도 ECR 13기와 C-27J 수송기 개조형 2기가 있네요. 

그나저나 EC-130H의 전자장비가 G550과 부조화를 겪는 걸까요? "cannot manage the speed and altitude of the more modern Gulfstream."의 정확한 의미가 무엇일지.. 

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/04/10/italy-reveals-plans-for-converting-gulfstream-jets/

Italy reveals plans for converting Gulfstream jets

Italy reveals plans for converting Gulfstream jets

By Tom Kington

 Apr 11, 12:37 AM

An Israeli military Gulfstream G550 jet flies during an air show in 2015. (Thomas Coex/AFP via Getty Images)

ROME — The Italian Air Force plans to convert two Gulfstream jets into electronic attack Compass Call variants, with an option for a third, a source with the service told Defense News.

The jets are to be converted from six Gulfstream aircraft Italy already has on order, with the remainder to be converted into early warning variants, said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press on the record.

The decision ends uncertainty over what the Air Force plans to do with the unconverted Gulfstream jets it ordered.

Last year, Air Force chief Gen. Luca Goretti told Defense News the service wants six aircraft converted into a mix of electronic attack and early warning versions, without providing further details.

The U.S. is currently testing the electronic attack version of the Gulfstream G550. The aircraft, known as the EC-37B Compass Call, contains electronics transferred from older EC-130H aircraft, which have been in service for decades with the U.S. Air Force and cannot manage the speed and altitude of the more modern Gulfstream.

The aircraft’s systems are designed to disrupt enemy command-and-control, communications, radars, and navigation systems.

Italy is now trying to receive U.S. approval to update its Gulfstreams to the same standard. An Italian Defence Ministry document published last month indicated such an arrangement would involve a commercial deal with American defense contractor L3Harris Technologies — which is working to integrate Compass Call electronic warfare technology into the G550 — and a foreign military sale negotiated through the U.S. government for the acquisition of the mission system.

If the U.S. approves the deal, it will enhance the capabilities of the Italian Air Force’s 10-strong Gulfstream fleet, which stemmed from the 2012 acquisition of two jets in the Conformal Airborne Early Warning format from Israel Aerospace Industries.

The jets have spent the last year flying missions close to Ukraine to monitor the airspace near the country, which is fighting a Russian invasion.

Italy also cut a deal in 2020 with the U.S. to obtain two more G550s for signals intelligence in a standard dubbed Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare.

The government document released last month said Italy would pay €1.22 billion (U.S. $1.33 billion) for those two jets and the other six unconvereted G550s. A further €925 million would cover conversion work on four of the six aircraft, and another €167 million for specific work on the Compass Call conversions, the document stated.

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/12/02/italy-lays-out-plans-to-buy-up-to-eight-new-sensor-loaded-gulfstreams/ (2020. 12. 2. 기사) 

Italy lays out plans to buy up to eight new sensor-loaded Gulfstreams

By Tom Kington

 Dec 2, 2020

An Israeli Gulfstream G-550 aerial intelligence spy plane takes part in the "Blue Flag" multinational air defense exercise at the Ovda air force base, north of the Israeli city of Eilat, in November 2019. Italy plans to buy similar aircraft to boost its signals-intelligence capabilities over the Mediterranean. (Photo by Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images)

ROME – Italy is planning to buy up to eight new Gulfstream signals intelligence aircraft and build a maintenance hub for similar aircraft operated by other nations around the Mediterranean.

The plans, which were outlined in documents supplied to the Italian parliament, would reinforce Italy’s signals intelligence capability as the Mediterranean becomes a flashpoint for regional tensions with neighbors like Turkey and Egypt tussling over the future of lawless Libya.

The Italian acquisition was first mentioned in this year’s budget document, released in October, which cited the need for ‘multi-mission, multi-sensor’ Gulfstream G-550 jets and listed an outlay of 1.23 billion euros.

An illustration of the aircraft in the document resembled Israel’s ‘Shavit’ Signals Intelligence Gulfstream, while the required capabilities listed included command and control, “electronic superiority” and “electronic protection of forces.”

Now, the government has sent parliament a second document giving more details of the plan ahead of a vote by the parliamentary defense commission on the purchase.

The document calls for the purchase of two aircraft which have already been converted for Sigint missions and equipped with the required systems before the purchase of a further six G-550 jets ready for subsequent conversion.

Analysts have suggested the need to buy the unconverted aircraft quickly is due to the Gulftstream G550 going out of production.

The aircraft would be based at the Italian Air Force’s Pratica di Mare base south of Rome, which is already home to the two Gulfstream 550 Conformal Airborne Early Warning aircraft Italy purchased from Israel’s IAI in 2012.

With up to 10 G-550s in its fleet, Italy would build up a maintenance operation which would not only serve its own aircraft but be able to “offer services to the Gulfstream fleet operating in Europe and the Middle East, with about 200 jobs created,” the document stated.

No indication was given about which company would be contracted to supply the two converted jets or carry out the conversion work on the other six, but the document stated that “given the complexity” of the program, a non-Italian contractor would be brought in. National offset work would be sought the document stated.

Funding for the buy is due to kick off next year and will stretch out to 2056 stated the document, which has been seen by Defense News.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_active_Italian_military_aircraft

[백선호]

"... contains electronics transferred from older EC-130H aircraft, which have been in service for decades with the U.S. Air Force and cannot manage the speed and altitude of the more modern Gulfstream."은

EC-130H가 G550의 속도와 고도를 따를 수 없다는 뜻입니다.

[위종민]

아 맞네요. 제가 눈이 나빠졌는지 cannot 앞에 쉼표가 있는 줄 알았습니다. 월급도둑질하면서 작성하는 거라 급하게 쓰다 보니..