Australia has taken delivery of its first MC-55A Peregrine at RAAF Base Edinburgh, marking the introduction of the country’s most advanced crewed intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare aircraft. Acquired through a U.S. Foreign Military Sales arrangement and missionized by L3Harris on the Gulfstream G550 platform, the MC-55A significantly enhances Australia’s ability to collect and exploit signals intelligence in contested environments. The aircraft completed integration and mission-system testing in the United States before transfer to the Royal Australian Air Force, with additional aircraft remaining under U.S. Air Force control to support training and tactics development. Operated by No. 10 Squadron, the Peregrine will form a core element of Australia’s high-end ISR enterprise, complementing platforms such as the P-8A Poseidon and MQ-4C Triton. Its mission system is optimized for wide-spectrum electromagnetic sensing, electronic support, and electronic attack, enabling detection, classification, and geolocation of adversary emitters. The MC-55A is also designed to function as a networked node, sharing intelligence in near real time with joint and coalition forces, reinforcing Australia’s shift toward integrated, multi-domain operations.
