The brand new facility will assist a number of applications, together with the EA-37B and the JAMMS platforms.
On Jul. 24, 2025, L3Harris Applied sciences and ELT Group, a number one Italian firm in electromagnetic spectrum operations, have introduced a brand new partnership to ascertain a multi-sensor take a look at and calibration facility in Italy. The initiative marks the primary time a devoted Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) middle of this sort will probably be situated exterior the US.
The ability, whose precise location has not been disclosed but, will probably be used to assist business, army and authorities applications, together with ISR and digital warfare platforms such because the G550 Joint Airborne Multi-Mission, Multi-Sensor System and the EA-37B Digital Assault plane. Further assist will prolong to a variety of air, naval and floor platforms.
In keeping with L3Harris, the settlement will create an in-country functionality that advantages each the Italian Armed Forces and allied nations, whereas additionally strengthening native business.
“L3Harris’ business partnerships ship long-term advantages that assist Italian companies, whereas additionally maximizing mission readiness for army items,” mentioned Jon Rambeau, President of Built-in Mission Methods at L3Harris. “This new sensor take a look at facility additional strengthens Italy’s defence infrastructure.”
ELT Group, which brings greater than seven many years of expertise in ISR, multi-mission programs and digital assault assist, will play a key position within the growth of the brand new middle. The corporate had many years of experience within the digital spectrum in addition to among the {hardware} required by the power therefore it was the “most reasonable accomplice for L3Harris,” Jon Rambeau advised reporters throughout a media briefing in Rome we attended.
“ELT Group is happy to be chosen as a accomplice firm for this essential program,” mentioned Domitilla Benigni, CEO and COO of ELT Group. “This cooperation marks step one in growing next-generation capabilities within the Italian take a look at and operational vary surroundings.”
The undertaking is predicted to contribute to a broader effort to reinforce Italy’s autonomous capabilities within the ISR and EW domains whereas supporting NATO and allied interoperability. Different allies may have the possibility to make use of the power that will probably be owned by the Italian authorities.
The brand new facility will present the power to check and confirm the capabilities of assorted airborne, naval, and floor platforms, with capabilities replicating these of L3Harris’ Multi-Sensor Flight Take a look at Facility (MSTF) in Greenville, Texas. The MSTF makes a speciality of supporting digital warfare, intelligence gathering, and communications programs by flight testing and coaching, and contains SIGINT, ELINT, radar warning receivers, digital countermeasures, and the simulation of purple, gray, and blue radar threats from a number of emitters.
Initially, the Greenville facility will probably be linked to the brand new Italian website to speed up the setup and operational rollout, however the Italian facility will finally function independently and won’t depend on Greenville for its core capabilities. As soon as totally operational, any change of key learnings between the 2 services will depend upon Authorities-to-Authorities (G2G) agreements. Nonetheless, it’s probably that the Italian website will evolve into a middle of excellence for EW and ISR, doubtlessly contributing invaluable knowledge and experience to European and NATO companions.
EA-37B contract
The launch of the brand new facility comes because the Italian authorities has signed a contract with L3Harris for the acquisition of two EA-37B Compass Name plane. The $300 million deal follows the U.S. State Division’s approval of the Overseas Army Sale in October 2024. An possibility for a 3rd plane was additionally referenced in earlier Italian paperwork, though L3Harris has declined to touch upon this presently.
As defined in a earlier story, the contract was introduced three years after the Italian Ministry of Protection first talked about the intention of buying the Digital Assault system to equip two Gulfstream G-550 plane in its multiyear protection planning doc.
The acquisition makes Italy the primary international authorities to amass the extremely categorized Compass Name system: the Italian Air Pressure will turn out to be one of many few operators to area a fight confirmed, state-of-the-art and extremely efficient Digital Assault functionality.
Truly, Italy has fairly clear concepts about the way forward for its C4ISTAR (Command, Management, Communications, Computer systems, Intelligence, Surveillance, Goal Acquisition, Reconnaissance) and CAEW/BM&C (Conformal Airborne Early Warning / Battle Administration & Command) capabilities.
P-MMMS
Underneath the P-MMMS (Piattaforma Multi-Missione Multi-Sensore) program, the Italian Air Pressure has already acquired two G550-based CAEW (Conformal Airborne Early Warning) plane. A requirement for added capabilities emerged in 2020, when the Defence Coverage Doc for 2020–2022 included plans for the acquisition of two G550 plane configured for SIGINT (Sign Intelligence) missions underneath the JAMMS (Joint Airborne Multi-sensor Multi-mission System) designation.
The Italian JAMMS program is being applied in a number of phases. The primary tranche, valued at 1.2 billion Euro, contains the procurement of two Full Mission Succesful (FMC) plane and 6 further “inexperienced” G550 airframes. These airframes are delivered in an unmodified state and might be transformed at a later date to both JAMMS or CAEW configurations. The bundle additionally contains logistics and infrastructure assist.
In keeping with present plans, the Italian Air Pressure goals to area a fleet of ten modified G550 particular mission plane: two CAEW platforms already in service, two new FMC-configured plane, and 6 inexperienced airframes.
A second section of this system, value 925 million Euro, covers the conversion of 4 of the six inexperienced plane.
In 2023, the Segredifesa/Nationwide Armaments Directorate authorized the Air Pressure’s request to transform two of the inexperienced G550s—together with an possibility for a 3rd—into the Full Mission Succesful Digital Assault (EA) configuration, underneath the second tranche of this system.
