The Navy just ordered a special mission G550 to do test range support for VX-30 similar to the CAEW versions Israel and Singapore now fly. I imagine orders to VX-30 will be a little harder to get in a few years.
-
Please take a moment and update your account profile. If you have an updated account profile with basic information on why you are on Air Warriors it will help other people respond to your posts. How do you update your profile you ask?
Go here:
Edit Account Details and Profile
Navy G550
- Thread starter Flash
- Start date
I read that too, and I was kind of surprised. There have been rumors/plans for years that -30 was going to get some E-2s for the purpose. Not sure why they thought a one-off like this was the better way to go, but. Wonder if these will be GO-CO airplanes?
Those were 'free', C-38's (G100's) transferred from the DC ANG.
Is the 201st out of the VIP transport job?
Not sure, they flew C-40's too.
The G550AEW isn't an off the shelf bird. It's very heavily modified and built up with Israeli avionics. And nobody else in DoD or the USG flies them. I'm not sure I see how that's more cost-effective than transferring a couple of E-2s to the squadron - and Hummers are very good for sea range clearance. We do it all the time.
As a one-off purchase it strikes me a little odd, makes me wonder if there were other factors or requirements at play. Most importantly though, just what do they plan to designate it as? E-12? EC-37? Trump Force Two?
Like Flash said, maybe there are some more capabilities than can't be discussed here or we just don't know. That being said, even though E-2s would be great for the job if there's one thing I've learned it's that what may appear to be the easiest and cheapest solution usually isn't. Or it is but you know, different "pots" of money.
Can E-2s make it to Hawaii or Jax in one hop with a maintenance detachment onboard? There's part of your answer. The other is that range clearance is only part of the mission.
More info:
http://www.janes.com/article/59202/...g550-aew-airframe-for-range-telemetry-support
More info:
http://www.janes.com/article/59202/...g550-aew-airframe-for-range-telemetry-support
Last edited:
Of interest: the Air Force wants to buy G550AEW to replace the Compass Call EC-130s, and they've designated it EC-37B.
That is a little odd, nothing public until this announcement for the purchase. Not sure if that was the plan all a long or just a recent 'good idea'.
I've heard rumblings of this before it went public. There's a rationale behind it, unfortunately not one I think is apropos to be discussed here.