The MC-55A Peregrine will improve the Royal Australian Air Power functionality to patrol its surrounding strategic maritime areas, whereas networking with different devoted property.
Australia’s Minister for Defence Trade Pat Conroy and L3Harris introduced on Jan. 24, 2025, that the Royal Australian Air Power (RAAF) obtained its first MC-55A Peregrine Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Digital Warfare (ISREW) plane. The plane is the primary of 4, with three different airframes at present within the U.S. forward of future deliveries.
The plane had nonetheless reached RAAF Base Edinburgh in Adelaide, South Australia, on Jan. 22, as proven by images captured by aviation photographer ‘Airman94’. The plane flew a multi-leg journey from L3Harris’ facility in Greenville, Texas, stopping over at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, Hickam AFB, Hawaii, Wake Island and eventually Andersen AFB, Guam.
The U.S. State Division accredited on Jun. 23, 2017, Australia’s buy of as much as 5 of those Gulfstream G550 jets modified with a number of specialised programs. Two years later, Canberra introduced on Mar. 18, 2019 the $1.6 billion AISREW program for 4 of those platforms underneath Mission AIR 555.
The Peregrine has landed! 🦅
Named after top-of-the-line precision hunters on the planet – the MC-55A Peregrine leads the way in which.
Our first Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Digital Warfare plane – it’ll assist our @AusAirForce see extra and know extra. pic.twitter.com/oMl2bblqba
— Pat Conroy MP (@PatConroy1) January 24, 2026
Upon supply, L3Harris mentioned that the airframe in query was delivered to the RAAF by the U.S. Air Power, and the remaining plane will stay within the latter’s “possession whereas supporting RAAF coaching and pre-delivery necessities.” The corporate has additionally established a discipline service staff in Australia to work alongside native business companions for in-country help.
Feeling genuinely grateful at this time. The RAAF MC-55 Peregrine has lastly been delivered to Adelaide, following an unbelievable route: KGVT > KDMA > PHNL > PWAK > PGUA > YPED, An enormous milestone for Australian aviation and functionality — honoured to look at it occur. 🇦🇺✈️ #RAAF #MC55… pic.twitter.com/js5M6KGm1L
— Airman94 🇦🇺 (@airman941) January 22, 2026
Australia’s Mission AIR 555
The MC-55 plane nonetheless bears its U.S. registration, N584GA, which was first photographed by aviation photographer SR_Planespotter on Sep. 11, 2023, on the time nonetheless in a manufacturing unit paint scheme, coming in to land at Majors Airport in Greenville, Texas. By January 2025, SR_Planespotter had additionally captured N540GA at Greenville, Texas, and in addition shared photos of tail quantity N542GD with The Aviationist.
The plane, which now additionally bears the emblem of the RAAF’s No. 10 Squadron on the vertical stabilizer, and shall be primarily based at RAAF Edinburgh, South Australia. The unit beforehand flew the RAAF’s two AP-3C Orion plane, transformed into the ELINT/SIGINT function within the 1990’s Mission Peacemate. These two plane flew for the final time on Dec. 5, 2023, following a commemorative route from RAAF Edinburgh alongside the South Australian and Victorian coastlines earlier than retiring.
The MC-55A Peregrine’s main function could be linking in a single community different electromagnetic sensing and strike platforms just like the RAAF’s F-35A Lightning II, E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Management) plane and the E/A-18G Growler. The MQ-28A Ghost Bat collaborative fight plane (CCA), and significantly the MQ-4C Triton unmanned ISR plane and the P-8A Poseidon will change into part of an prolonged net of networked ISR fleet, buying and selling optical, radar and digital surveillance information.
We’ve delivered the primary MC-55A plane to the @usairforce for Australia’s new Peregrine fleet, offering the @AusAirForce with superior digital warfare and ISR capabilities. This specialised plane enhances multi-domain operations, helps mission planning, and ensures… pic.twitter.com/Uz2UtLoCHn
— L3Harris (@L3HarrisTech) January 24, 2026
Broader allied protection diplomatic initiatives embody the U.S., Australia and the UK cooperating within the electromagnetic spectrum with their RC-135V Rivet Joint/RC-135W and the EA-37B Compass Name EW/SIGINT plane.
Very important ISR and EW functionality
Minister Conroy pointed in his X submit that the plane has been named after the Peregrine Falcon, “top-of-the-line precision hunters on the planet.” He additional added the brand new platform will assist the RAAF “see extra and know extra.”
EXCLUSIVE: The Royal Australian Air Power says it now has one of many world’s most superior spy planes tailored from an plane often utilized by celebrities. 7NEWS can convey you an unique take a look at the so-called Peregrine jets in South Australia. @telester pic.twitter.com/k2zUjnb1Bg
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) January 23, 2026
In an extended assertion, Defence Australia mentioned the MC-55A’s arrival marks “a serious milestone in strengthening the nation’s sovereign defence functionality.” The assertion described the MC-55A as “a long-range, surveillance and reconnaissance plane designed to ship a number of sources of intelligence” that may “detect, disrupt, deter, and if mandatory defeat threats.”
“The MC-55A shall be a key element of Australia’s broader ISR enterprise, complementing platforms such because the P-8A Poseidon and MQ-4C Triton, and forming a crucial hyperlink within the nation’s sovereign community of surveillance and digital warfare property,” defined Defence Australia. “Operated by Quantity 10 Squadron, the MC-55A Peregrine shall be primarily based at RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia.”
Minister for Defence Richard Marles referred to as the MC-55A’s arrival a “important step” in the direction of “strengthening Australia’s means to watch and shield its strategic pursuits, together with key maritime approaches.” He additional added “This functionality will combine seamlessly with allied and companion programs, enabling the Air Power and ADF to share intelligence with safety companions like the UK and United States.”
RAAF chief Air Marshal Stephen Chappel mentioned the airborne EW/SIGINT functionality by way of the MC-55A was recognized within the 2024 Built-in Funding Program to offer “vital intelligence info to help ADF missions.”
L3Harris’ president for ISR, House and Mission Methods Jason Lambert referred to as the MC-55A Peregrine “a drive multiplier in delivering crucial information for long-range concentrating on, regional deployments and efficient mission planning.” He additional added “The specialised plane will give the RAAF info superiority and function strategic property for future Australian Defence Power operations.”
The primary MC-55A Peregrine for the @AusAirForce arrives at L3 Harris Greenville for check flight 2 in its accomplished, absolutely modified state. pic.twitter.com/wkRSrhBTFs
— 𝗦𝗥_𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 (@SR_Planespotter) January 22, 2025
L3Harris’ launch additionally talked about “ongoing software program and {hardware} upgrades will assist make sure the Peregrine stays prepared to satisfy evolving threats and future mission wants.” This might be a reference to the $404 million Baseline 2 improve that the Defence Safety Cooperation Company (DSCA) notified on Aug. 6, 2025 it had accredited for Australia.
This system consists of main and minor modifications; spare elements; consumables and equipment; restore and return help; U.S. authorities and contractor engineering; technical, and logistics help providers; and different associated parts of logistics and program help.
