L3Harris and electronic warfare (EW) specialist ELT Group are partnering to create an Italian intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) multi-sensor test facility, marking the first facility of its kind built outside the US.
Strengthening Italian Capabilities
According to Jon Rambeau, president of integrated mission systems at L3Harris, the facility will significantly strengthen Italy’s ability to support the calibration and testing of systems within the country and potentially beyond.
Supporting Key Programs
Due to Italian government restrictions on information sharing, the location and opening timeline of the facility were not disclosed. However, officials stated that it will primarily support two high-profile programs: the EA-37B Compass Call electronic attack aircraft and the Joint Airborne Multi-Mission Multi-Sensor System (JAMMS).
Italy has contracted L3Harris to deliver two EA-37B Electronic Attack aircraft, modified from Gulfstream G550 business jets. Additionally, in 2021, Italy awarded L3Harris the JAMMS program, involving the production of two G550 platforms equipped with an airborne intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, and electronic warfare (AIRSEW) suite. These planes are currently undergoing mission systems integration, according to L3Harris.
Strategic and Programmatic Benefits
Rambeau stated that having a multi-sensor testing capability in Italy will allow the EA-37B and JAMMS aircraft to be sustained and calibrated regularly without leaving the country. He also mentioned that additional aircraft types and other naval or ground systems could be tested at the new facility.
Leveraging US Expertise
L3Harris operates a 100-acre multi-sensor flight test facility in Greenville, Texas, specializing in EW, reconnaissance, communication systems, flight testing and training, and threat simulation.
The Italian facility „will leverage directly the work that we’ve done in Greenville and our expertise there, and allow for, obviously, some transfer of knowledge and technology to ELT Group,” Rambeau added.
Facility Resources
Brian Solomon, general manager for international and strategic growth programs at L3Harris, said that the facility will include an array of antennas capable in various signal ranges, equipment for the entire signal spectrum, and assets for navigation testing and verification.
