The brand new facility will help a number of packages, 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 determine a multi-sensor check and calibration facility in Italy. The initiative marks the primary time a devoted Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) heart of this sort will probably be situated exterior the USA.
The power, whose actual location has not been disclosed but, will probably be used to help business, navy and authorities packages, 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 help will lengthen to a variety of air, naval and floor platforms.
Based on L3Harris, the settlement will create an in-country functionality that advantages each the Italian Armed Forces and allied nations, whereas additionally strengthening native trade.
“L3Harris’ trade partnerships ship long-term advantages that help Italian companies, whereas additionally maximizing mission readiness for navy items,” stated Jon Rambeau, President of Built-in Mission Methods at L3Harris. “This new sensor check facility additional strengthens Italy’s defence infrastructure.”
ELT Group, which brings greater than seven many years of expertise in ISR, multi-mission methods and digital assault help, will play a key function within the growth of the brand new heart. The corporate had many years of experience within the digital spectrum in addition to among the {hardware} required by the ability therefore it was the “most obvious associate for L3Harris,” Jon Rambeau informed reporters throughout a media briefing in Rome we attended.
“ELT Group is happy to be chosen as a associate firm for this vital program,” stated Domitilla Benigni, CEO and COO of ELT Group. “This cooperation marks step one in growing next-generation capabilities within the Italian check and operational vary surroundings.”
The challenge is predicted to contribute to a broader effort to boost Italy’s autonomous capabilities within the ISR and EW domains whereas supporting NATO and allied interoperability. Different allies can have the possibility to make use of the ability that will probably be owned by the Italian authorities.
The brand new facility will present the flexibility to check and confirm the capabilities of varied 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 focuses on supporting digital warfare, intelligence gathering, and communications methods by flight testing and coaching, and consists of SIGINT, ELINT, radar warning receivers, digital countermeasures, and the simulation of crimson, 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 absolutely operational, any change of key learnings between the 2 services will depend upon Authorities-to-Authorities (G2G) agreements. Nonetheless, it’s possible that the Italian website will evolve into a middle of excellence for EW and ISR, probably contributing precious 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 accumulate 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
Beneath 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 carried out in a number of phases. The primary tranche, valued at 1.2 billion Euro, consists of 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 package deal additionally consists of logistics and infrastructure help.
Based on 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 accepted 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.
