Image of an L3Harris EA-37B aircraft integrated with electromagnetic attack mission system capabilities. (L3Harris Technologies)
The Italian government will select and prepare a site for the construction of an L3Harris and ELT Group multisensor test facility, an L3Harris representative confirmed to Janes on 24 July.
US defence contractor L3Harris Technologies and Italian electronic warfare (EW) equipment company ELT Group announced in a release on 24 July that they plan to establish a multisensor facility for testing and calibrating different platforms with communications, signal, and navigation systems.
According to the release, the facility’s capabilities would be determined in collaboration with ELT Group and the Italian government after the design phase.
The new facility will support the G550 Joint Airborne Multi-mission, Multi-sensor System (JAMMS) and electronic attack (EA) aircraft along with other platforms, according to the release.
On 21 July, L3Harris Technologies announced it received a USD300 million contract from the Italian government to deliver two EA-37B Compass Call EA aircraft to the Italian Air Force. On the same day, BAE Systems announced it received a USD12 million contract from L3Harris to support in the modification of two G550 aircraft into EA platforms for the Italian Air Force. Under that contract, BAE Systems would be providing hardware to modify the aircraft and prepare for the installation of the EW mission systems.
The US Department of State announced in October 2024 that it cleared Italy for the procurement of EA-37B Mission System and related equipment valued at approximately USD680 million. Italy is US’ first international ally to operate the aircraft. The EA-37B is based on the G550 platform with electromagnetic attack capabilities. It allows airborne jamming with the ability to disrupt command-and-control (C2) communications, radars, and navigation systems, according to an L3Harris release.
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