The maritime domain is becoming increasingly critical to national economies, encompassing Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ), trade routes, energy resources, subsea cables, and other infrastructures. As nations depend more on these maritime assets, safeguarding them becomes paramount.
The importance of maritime security is further underscored by the escalating threats arising from hybrid warfare strategies employed by major global actors. These strategies exploit the maritime domain to challenge national security and disrupt economic stability without direct confrontation.
In this complex and dynamic environment, modern navies require capabilities for rapid and wide-ranging intervention. The era of business-jet-based Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) is fast gaining momentum as more and more countries are investing in multi-mission, long-range, wide-area maritime surveillance and control capabilities toward an integrated and multidimensional approach to maritime domain awareness. Business-jet MPAs offer the necessary speed and versatility to serve as fully-operational command centers, capable of responding swiftly to search and rescue missions or emerging threats.
These aircraft ensure that navies can maintain robust maritime surveillance and control, securing national interests in an era of evolving maritime challenges. “The versatility and advanced capabilities of our business-jet-based MPAs are a testament to our commitment to providing innovative solutions for maritime security,” said Boaz Levy, President and CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries.
Israel Aerospace Industries by its ELTA Systems subsidiary has achieved a breakthrough in Special Mission Aircraft thanks to advanced sensor miniaturization technology coupled with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) software applications, allowing high-performance business jets to be used as Special Mission Aircraft. These special-mission aircraft are based on bizjet platforms from OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) such as Gulfstream and Bombardier and are considered to be strategic assets for countries worldwide.
Modern business jets have already proven their capabilities as special mission aircraft with high speed, long ranges, all-weather capabilities, reliability, and low cost of ownership. Bizjet MPAs allow coast guards and navies to have eyes-in-the-sky when and where they need them.
The all-weather, multi-mission, long-range MPA provide detection, continuous tracking, identification and recognition of surface vessels to generate and maintain a reliable and persistent integrated tactical picture of the area under surveillance, comprising shipping/fishing traffic and military vessels with or without operating electronic emitters.
IAI’s MPAs are equipped with a latest AESA (Active Electronic Scanned Array) Multi-Mode Radar System, that can operate automatically and efficiently perform sea, land and air missions simultaneously. In addition, the MPAs include a robust communications suite with SATCOM (satellite communications), radio, and datalink capabilities, enabling real-time data sharing with other assets. An EO/IR (Electro-Optical/Infrared) imaging sensor for day and night observation, AIS (Automatic Identification System), and an SAR-DF (Search and Rescue Direction Finder).
MPAs can be deployed for missions such as maritime surveillance and reconnaissance, coastal ground surveillance and reconnaissance, aerial surveillance and reconnaissance, Homeland Security (HLS), Search and Rescue (SAR), and ecological and pollutant surveillance.
IAI’s G280 mid-size jet and G550 large-body jet MPA configurations have been delivered or are on-order to our customers worldwide.
The aircraft are also equipped with advanced-mission operator workstations and MEDEVAC (medical evacuation) stretcher facilities, making it versatile for varied missions, and can easily be augmented with additional sensors for SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) or maritime environmental protection.
IAI’s multi-mission “Oron” aircraft provides high-altitude, wide-area maritime surveillance and intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance. The “Oron” is powered by the ELM-2024 AESA radar, able to detect, identify and classify maritime and surface targets both from very long and close standoff ranges.
The Challenger 650 mid-size jet and the Global 6500 large-body jet are available for ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare), ASuW (Anti-Surface Warfare), Maritime Surveillance, and Command & Control.
Bizjet MPAs have definite advantages over other types of aircraft: they are capable of high-speed, high-altitude flight to reach any area of interest within a short time, comfortable low-noise cabin for better operator efficiency and less fatigue, high-speed high-altitude surveillance to cover large areas and detect critical targets in real-time, all-weather capability, ease of maintenance worldwide, multi-mission sensors and multiple means of communication.
Israel Aerospace Industries is the nation’s leading defense company and a global leader in the defense and aerospace sectors. Since the company was founded over five decades ago, it has achieved a leading position in both local and international markets as a high-end radar and electronics manufacturer, systems house, and systems integrator developing technologically-advanced solutions for defense, paramilitary, government and law-enforcement customers as well as for the civilian market, becoming a world-leader in providing military and paramilitary forces with superior systems for decision superiority and theater dominance. Operating as a systems house, utilizes a broad spectrum of in-house advanced radar, SIGINT or communications sensors, and mission management, integrated with a full range of high-performance vendor systems.
The company has unparalleled experience in converting Gulfstream, Bombardier and Embraer business jets into dedicated state-of-the-art multi-mission aircraft and offers a host of fully integrated multi-mission special mission aircraft; MPAs and MSAs (Maritime Patrol and Maritime Surveillance Aircraft); ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance); AEW&C (Airborne Early-Warning & Control); and AISIS (Airborne Integrated SIGINT System).
