Fact Sheet: Gulfstream 550 - Airborne Early Warning

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) acquired the Gulfstream 550 - Airborne Early Warning (G550-AEW) in 2007 to replace the RSAF's E-2C AEW that had served the Air Force for more than 20 years. The RSAF took delivery of all four aircraft between Feb 2009 and Oct 2011.

The G550-AEW is one of the most sophisticated AEW platforms in the world today. It is equipped with a sophisticated mission suite that includes an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar to detect, identify and track aerial targets. The G550-AEW aircraft has a detection range of more than 200 nautical miles to enable the RSAF to see farther and respond more effectively to aerial threats in various operational situations. The aircraft has a modern 'glass' cockpit comprising four 14-inch multifunction LCD screens and a state-of-the-art avionics suite which includes a weather radar to warn the pilots of any adverse weather that potentially affects the aircraft’s flight path. For self protection, the G550-AEW is equipped with a radar warning receiver, a missile warning system, and a chaff and flare dispensing system.

Technical Specifications

Airborne Early Warning (AEW) eliminates risks of surprise from the air as they provide persistent and all-weather ability to detect, identify and track aerial threats. The G550-AEW, with its state-of-the-art integrated advanced radar and communications systems, enhances the RSAF's air situation awareness and its identification capability as part of the RSAF's networked air defence system. Together with the RSAF's ground-based sensors, and command and control systems, they form an effective alert system to any threat in our airspace, allowing the RSAF to mount quickly a counter response through our aircraft and air defence weapons systems. The G550-AEW comes under command of the RSAF’s Air Combat Command and operates with the Air Defence and Operations Command during missions.

More Resources

• RSAF's Gulfstream 550 Airborne Early Warning Aircraft is Fully Operational

• Speech by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen, at the Parade to Mark the Full Operational Capability of the G550-AEW 111 Squadron