The US Navy’s Unique Gulfstream G550 Business Jet, Modified for Military Use

Although engineered specifically for luxurious, long-range business and corporate travel, modern Gulfstream aircraft can serve many roles with various missions and aircraft configurations. This typically sleek, streamlined Gulfstream G550 illustrates this flexibility quite well.

Delivered to the US Navy in 2018, this particular G550 was heavily modified to serve as a missile range support aircraft. In Navy service, it is designated as an NC-37B. The numerous bulging fairings house sophisticated sensors and equipment to monitor the airspace around active missile ranges, control the airspace, and gather telemetry from missile and rocket launches.

While all the extraneous bulges and shapes disturb Gulfstream’s meticulously engineered aerodynamics, increasing drag, fuel burn, and cabin noise, the platform provides the Navy with a more efficient and reliable alternative to legacy aircraft platforms.