In 2016 the Algeria government / Air Force signed a 1.1 billion deal with Raytheon for three intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)-configured Gulfstream 550s. Since then, the progress made on integrating new systems on the business jets is unclear.
 Raytheon, or Greenville-based E-Systems which it bought, has in the past supplied similar ISR-configured business jets, like the Sentinel R1 (Global Express) to the UK RAF. Raytheon regards this kind of work as ‘multi-int ISR’ and presented it that way at the Paris Air Show in 2017.


Not being a systems integrator, Raytheon outsourced the Algerian work to US-owned Field Aerospace, based at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City (OK). This is where the three Gulfstream 550s, N543RN c/n: 5543 (ex N543GD), N546RN c/n: 5546 (N546GD) and N550RN: c/n 5550 (ex N750GA) went to.
Field’s past work has included the US Air Force’s KC-10 and KC-135, but among its boasts is that of an ISR integrator.

Already in 2018 sources mentioned that almost no work on the integration of Raytheon’s systems on the three Gulfstream 550s had been done. This because of not enough power generated on board the aircraft to keep the multi-spectral systems working. Another reason was that  modifications to the aircraft’s airframe to accommodate the system would be so cumbersome, and cause so much drag, that the flight management load systems and on-board software would need to be completely re-written. Also, US international traffic in arms regulations (ITAR) required specific sensors and equipment to be downgraded at extra costs. This would also affect the capabilities of the aircraft.

At the moment a lot is not clear or certain. Is the deal still in place? Is Algeria looking at other options? Are the aircraft still located at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City (OK) (they were noted in 2020)? Will they be sold to other Air Forces? All registrations (N543RN, N546RN, N550RN) of the 3 G550 airframes are cancelled.