IAI Unveils ‘Ellyon’ ISTAR Platform

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has unveiled the latest offering in its family of multi-mission aircraft systems, an electronic attack and intelligence-gathering special-mission capability called “Ellyon,” based on a large business jet platform. According to the Israeli state-owned aerospace company, the electronic attack and ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance) platform features “operationally proven” technologies, integrated into a heavily modified business jet base. 

IAI officially announced Ellyon (loosely translating as “God most high” or “the highest one” in Hebrew) on July 20. “Able to simultaneously execute both radar jamming and communications jamming within a single mission, Ellyon allows coordinated operational effects against advanced threats and integrated air defense systems,” stated IAI.

A scale model of Ellyon first materialized at IAI’s booth at the Singapore Airshow in February, appearing to represent a heavily missionized Bombardier Global 6500. IAI’s product brochure and accompanying digital renderings are also based on this type, although the company said Ellyon is designed to be platform-agnostic and can be integrated “onboard multiple large business jet platforms.”

While IAI has previously centered its special-mission platforms around the Gulfstream G550, its airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) offering is also available on the Global 6500, featuring an ELW-2085 radar from subsidiary Elta Systems. Israel, Singapore, and Italy have all purchased the G550-based ELW-2085 platforms. 

Potential Ellyon customers or timelines for a first flight have not been specified, but IAI confirmed that an onboard multimission management system includes space for four to six operator stations. Although an accompanying video showed a digitized mockup, IAI said that onboard technologies “represent IAI’s [existing] multidisciplinary capabilities across intelligence, electronic attack, and airborne domains.” These include sensor miniaturization, advanced algorithms, and AI-based software applications.

IAI executive v-p Dror Bar described the Ellyon capability—one of several special-mission aircraft applications in IAI’s portfolio—as “a technological leap forward, combining stand-off operations with the ability to sense, understand, and shape the electromagnetic battlespace.”