List of Gulfstream G550 operators explained

This is a list of notable operators for the Gulfstream G550, an executive transport jet used by multiple governments, individuals, and companies.

Government operators

• Algerian Air Force – 3 G550s^{[1] [2]}

• In late 2015, the RAAF ordered two Gulfstream G550 aircraft to be delivered by 30 November 2017. The aircraft will be used for SIGINT and ELINT intelligence gathering.^[3] It is reported that the aircraft will possibly form the replacement for the electronic intelligence-gathering role performed by two of the RAAF's AP-3 Orions.^[4] In June 2017, the sale was approved, and the United States confirmed that Australia was interested in purchasing up to five airframes, to be delivered in two tranches from the early 2020s.^{[5] [6]} In March 2019, the Minister for Defence and Minister for Defence Industry in a joint statement announced the procurement of four modified Gulfstream G550 aircraft for use in electronic warfare missions. The aircraft, to be designated MC-55A Peregrine in Australian service, are to be modified in the U.S. and delivered to RAAF Base Edinburgh in a deal worth US$1.7 billion.^[7]

• The Kingdom of Bahrain is known to use a Gulfstream G550 as a state aircraft and for transporting its royal family.^{[8] [9]}

• German Aerospace Center (DLR) – one G550 special mission aircraft. The aircraft is dubbed HALO (High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft). The aircraft's primary objective is to explore the atmosphere and its carbon cycle. Its unique configuration allows a flying altitude of more than 15 kilometers (49,500 feet), a range of more than 8,000 kilometers, and a load capacity of three tons.^{[10] [11]}

• Israeli Air Force – two Eitam CAEW (Conformal Airborne Early Warning) and Three Shavit SEMA (Special Electronic Missions Aircraft) aircraft^[12]

• Italian Air Force – two G550 CAEWs as part of a counter-deal to Israel's $1 billion order for 30 Alenia Aermacchi M-346 advanced jet trainers.^[13] Both aircraft delivered and in service as of January 2018.^[14] In December 2020 Italy decided to buy additional 8 G550; the first two will be equipped for AISREW (Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare) mission with a L3Harris suite and the remaining six would be delivered as "green" aircraft to be fitted with mission systems at a later date.^[15]

• State of Kuwait – one Gulfstream G550 in service^[16] for transport of the royal family.^[17]

• Nigerian Air Force – one G550 in service^[18]

• Polish Air Force – two G550s in use for VIP transport^{[19] [20]}

• Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) – four G550s with the IAI/ELTA EL/W-2085 active electronically scanned array (AESA) active phased array radar for CAEW duties from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).^[21] These were delivered in late 2008 and were expected to be fully operational by late 2010.^[22] An additional G550 for use as an AEW trainer was to be acquired and maintained by ST Aerospace for the RSAF.^[23]

• Swedish Air Force – one G550, designated TP 102D^[24] It along with a G-IV designated TP 102A, and a G-IV SP, designated TP 102C, serve as transports for the royal family and the prime minister.

• Tanzania Government Flight Agency – one G550 in service for VIP transport^[25]

• Turkish Armed Forces – two G550 Command and Control aircraft in use^[26]

• Government of Uganda – one G550 in use for presidential flights since February 2009. It replaced a Gulfstream IV-SP that had been in service since 2000.

• United States Air Force – one specially equipped C-37B used as VIP transport including the President^[27]
• United States Navy – three C-37Bs in service as VIP transports^[28]
• United States Army – one C-37B in use since 2005 as VIP transport.
• United States Coast Guard – one C-37B in service as a Long Range Command and Control Aircraft.^[29]

Individual operators

Various companies are known to own and operate G550s, among the most well-covered being those acquired by Elon Musk in 2020 and 2021. Musk's two most recently purchased G550s were formerly owned by Wells Fargo and Contrail Aviation LLC.^[30]

The following individuals have been reported to own G550s at some point:

• Bill Ackman^{[31] [32]}
• Sergey Brin^[33]
• Jim Crane^[34]
• Mark Cuban
• Dan Friedkin
• Alexander Lukashenko^[35]
• Leonid Mikhelson^[36]
• Muhammad bin Fahd Al Saud
• Rupert Murdoch^[37]
• Elon Musk
• Larry Page
• Adar Poonawalla^[38]
• J. Christopher Reyes
• Kelly Roberts
• Rick Ross^[39]
• Eric Schmidt
• Alan Smolinisky
• Oprah Winfrey^[40]
• Tiger Woods^[41]

Corporate operators

The following companies have been reported to own G550s at some point:

Notes and References

1. News: 2016-06-19 . L'Algérie donne un coup de fouet à ses capacités de reconnaissance . fr-FR . Menadefense . 2018-02-27.
2. Web site: Senate Executive Communication 3943 – Executive Communication – 115th Congress (2017–2018) . 2018-02-27 . Congress.
3. News: 7 January 2015 . Defence confirms acquisition of two ISR and EW Gulfstreams . Australian Aviation . 8 January 2016.
4. News: Waldron . Greg . 4 January 2016 . L-3 G550 contract suggests new Australian surveillance deal . Flightglobal .
5. Web site: 28 June 2017 . US approves sale of modified G550 for RAAF . 29 June 2017 . Australian Aviation.
6. Web site: Stewart . Cameron . 28 June 2017 . US hails $1.7bn Gulfstream spy plane sale to Australia . 29 June 2017 . The Australian.
7. Web site: Waldron . Greg . 18 March 2019 . Australia to obtain four G550s equipped for EW mission . live . https://archive.today/20190318230422/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/australia-to-obtain-four-g550s-equipped-for-ew-miss-456715/ . 18 March 2019 . 18 March 2019 . FlightGlobal . Singapore.
8. Web site: 2013-09-11 . A9C-BRN Bahrain Royal Flight Gulfstream Aerospace G-V-SP Gulfstream G550 . 2023-07-06 . Planespotters.net . en.
9. Web site: Privates / Helicopters Bader Models . 2023-07-06 . www.badermodels.com.
10. new research aircraft HALO successfully completed . 6 December 2007 . Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt.
11. Gulfstream Delivers Four Special Mission Aircraft And Receives Order For One More In 1Q05 . Gulfstream . April 21, 2005.
12. .
13. News: 20 July 2012 . Italy signs G550 AEW deal with Israel . Flight Global .
14. Web site: Egozi . Arie . 23 January 2018 . Italy receives second G550 for AEW duties . dead . https://archive.today/20180123201242/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/italy-receives-second-g550-for-aew-duties-445131/ . 23 January 2018 . 23 January 2018 . Flight Global . Tel Aviv.
15. Web site: David Donald . 16 December 2020 . Special-mission Gulfstreams Approved for Italy . AIN Online.
16. Web site: 27 February 2010 . Kuwait – Government Gulfstream G550 . planepictures.net.
17. Web site: Gulfstream GVSP . 9 April 2020.
18. Web site: 4 March 2017 . Nigeria – Air Force Gulfstream G550 . jetphotos.com.
19. News: 17 November 2016 . Poland selects Gulfstream G550 for VIP transport . Flight Global .
20. Web site: Wilk . Remigiusz . 21 June 2017 . Poland receives first G550 VIP jet . dead . https://archive.today/20170624171433/http://www.janes.com/article/71620/poland-receives-first-g550-vip-jet . 24 June 2017 . 24 June 2017 . IHS Jane's 360 . Warsaw.
21. Web site: 1 May 2007 . Singapore confirms new AEW purchase . Flight Global.
22. Web site: Singapore to Replace Hawkeye With G550 AEW . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080905015257/http://www.defense-update.com/newscast/0507/news_080507.htm#g550 . 2008-09-05 . 2007-05-10 . Defense Update.
23. Web site: Craig Hoyle . 16 September 2008 . Singapore to get additional G550 as AEW trainer . Flight Global.
24. Web site: FMV har anskaffat nytt statsflygplan . . sv.
25. Web site: 5H-ONE . 26 December 2014 . Aircraft Register . Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority.
26. News: 16 December 2008 . Turkey picks G550 for command and control mission . Flight Global .
27. Web site: July 16, 2002 . White House Chief of Staff Card Addresses the Excelgov Conference in Washington, DC . White House.
28. Web site: C-37A (Gulfstream V) and C-37B (Gulfstream 550) . U.S. Navy.
29. Web site: C-37B Gulfstream long range command and control aircraft . 2020-01-13 . USGC.
30. Web site: Descalsota . Marielle . Elon Musk has bought 2 private jets over the past 2 years. Take a look inside the Gulfstream G550, which retails from $14 million when preowned. . 2023-07-04 . Business Insider . en-US.
31. Web site: Cohan . William D. . March 7, 2013 . The Big Short War . Vanity Fair.
32. Kolhatkar . Sheelah . February 26, 2017 . Financiers Fight Over the American Dream . The New Yorker.
33. Web site: Gulfstream V production list . 2023-07-04 . rzjets.net.
34. Web site: US Private Jet Owners . 2023-07-04 . SuperYachtFan . en-us.
35. Web site: Gulfstream V production list . 2023-07-04 . rzjets.net.
36. Web site: Tognini . Giacomo . A Guide To The Private Jets And Helicopters Owned By Sanctioned Russian Billionaires . 2023-07-04 . Forbes . en.
37. Web site: 2011-11-14 . Where's Rupert? . 2023-07-04 . Business Jet Traveler . en.
38. Web site: Ambani's Jets, Mittal's Yachts: Luxurious Rides Of The Ultra-Rich – Who Owns What . 2023-07-04 . The Economic Times.
39. Web site: American rapper Rich Ross shows off his Gulfstream G550 private jet that has a custom paint job with his name in gold on the side . 2023-07-06 . Flipboard . en.
40. Web site: Gulfstream V production list . 2023-07-04 . rzjets.net.
41. Web site: 2016-12-13 . See the Private Jets Owned By Stars Like Beyoncé, Oprah, and Tiger Woods . 2023-07-04 . Architectural Digest . en-US.