At Paris Air Show on 18 June, Embraer Defense & Security and ELTA Systems Ltd. (ELTA), a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement to introduce the P600 AEW (Airborne Early Warning) aircraft.

Designed to compete in a new segment of the AEW market, this next generation aircraft is based on the advanced super midsize platform of the Embraer PRAETOR 600 business jet with the primary sensor being the IAI/ELTA 4th generation Digital Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar with integrated identification friend or foe (IFF) capabilities.

In this cooperation, Embraer is to provide the air platform, ground support, communications systems and aircraft integration, while ELTA is to provide the AEW radar, SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) and other electronic systems and system integration.

The P600 AEW jet addresses the growing market of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities for countries that require cost-effective, high performance and flexible solutions for defence and homeland security missions. The Embraer PRAETOR 600 is a great performing super-midsize business jet, offering intercontinental range with great payload capabilities, high availability and reliability, short turn-around and low life cycle costs. Coupled with ELTA’s radar technology, P600 AEW offers the benefits of cutting edge, proven systems and provides capabilities available until now only on much larger platforms, the company states, going head to head with Airbus, Boeing and Saab.

P600 AEW can provide an extended Air Situational Picture by monitoring aerial activity in areas outside ground radar coverage. It can perform various missions such as Air Defence, Early Warning, Command and Control (C2), Fighter Fleet Efficiency, Territorial Defence and Maritime Surveillance. Furthermore, P600 AEW can be configured with the full range of AEW&C sensor and control systems, including; 4th generation Digital AESA AEW Radar, civil and military IFF, electronic support measures (ESM)/electronic intelligence (ELINT) with Radar Warning Receiver capability, C2, comprehensive communication suite including Data Networks and Satellite Links, and a robust Self Protection Suite (SPS).

A comprehensive communications suite allows for data link capability as well as satellite communication for operations beyond the line of sight data link. It also secures interoperability with allied forces. Network centric warfare (NCW) capability transforms P600 AEW into a member of a tactical network. An advanced self-protection system performs the detection of potential threats activating any required ESM.

“This aircraft delivers superior performance and flexibility that translates into the greatest value proposition in its category,"Jackson Schneider, President & CEO Embraer Defense & Security, told MONCh at Paris Air Show. “It can be easily configured to match the customer needs and it can perform a wide variety of missions in a very efficient and cost-effective way.”

“As part of IAI’s new strategy, we are ramping up our collaborations with global business entities, leveraging the know-how and technology accumulated over decades of aerospace and defense operations. As the pioneers of the bizjet AEW, ELTA Systems has made large strides over the years towards offering cost effective AEW capabilities for the growing and changing global needs,” Yoav Tourgeman, ELTA President & IAI Executive Vice President, concluded. “Our partnership, forged with Embraer Defense & Security, enables us to introduce a new market segment by offering a cost effective midsize bizjet AEW system.”