[GIII] C-20A
Gulfstream's greatest military honor came when the US Air Force selected the Gulfstream III for it's C-20A project also known as C-SAM (Special Air Mission). A request for proposals was issued in August 1982 under the C-SAM programme for a new SAM aircraft to replace the VC-140B Jetstars in service with the 89th Military Airlift Wing (MAW) at Andrews AFB. Check out the C-20A history by clicking here or on the picture.
[GIII] GIII INDIAN AF
Are there any Gulfstreams that every aircraft spotter would like to see or still needs? A certain Japanese GII maybe? Yes, but also the GIII's operated by the Indian Air Force. The three GIII's belong to the most secretive aircraft in the world. Not much is known about their active role and they are seldom seen outside India. Based on the experience Gulfstream gained with the SRA-1 concept two modified high altitude photo-reconnaissance aircraft for border surveillance missions were sold to India. The design of a large optical glass section (for the internal LOROP (LOng Range OPtical camera system) was first intended to get FAA approval but the demanded two layers of glass was not acceptable. The redesign with a single layer of glass was a long drawn-out process and forced a major delay in the programme. More info here.
[GIII] SRA-1
The successful introduction into service of the Royal Danish Air Force GIII's and USAF C-20's was the beginning of a major sales effort by Gulfstream to develop and build a family of special missions aircraft. Two distinct approaches were considered: a multi-mission transport, the SMA-3 (Support Missions Aircraft) and an electronic surveillance / high altitude reconnaissance aircraft with the potential of combat use, the SRA-1 (Special Reconnaissance Aircraft). Click on the photo above for the details.
[GIII] DRAGON STAR
