Aircraft & UAVs

Gulfstream G550 Nachshon Oron

Also known as
  • Nachshon Oron
  • Oron
  • ELI-3150 ISTAR
  • MARS2
  • Multi-Mission Airborne Reconnaissance and Surveillance System
  • Gulfstream G550 Oron
  • G-550 Oron

The Gulfstream G550 Nachshon Oron is an Israeli special-mission aircraft that adapts a U.S.-built Gulfstream G550 business jet with IAI/ELTA radar, electro-optical, SIGINT, C4I, and AI-assisted processing systems. Operated by Israeli Air Force 122 Squadron, it gives Israel a business-jet-based wide-area surveillance and target-generation platform documented in wartime support roles over Gaza and during Israel's 2025 operations against Iran.

Gulfstream G550 Nachshon Oron, Multi-mission intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: Commons Oron April 2021 I

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States airframe / Israeli mission-system conversion
Type
Multi-mission intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance aircraft
Service note
Entered Israeli operational use during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War; publicly tied to 2025 Operation Rising Lion.
Designer
Israel Ministry of Defense DDR&D, Israel Aerospace Industries / ELTA, Israeli Air Force, Intelligence Directorate, and Israeli Navy
Designed
Publicly unveiled in 2021; mission-system testing announced in 2023.
Unit cost
Estimated around $1 billion for the modified aircraft and mission system in Israeli reporting.
Produced
First aircraft received by the Israeli Air Force in April 2021; operational status announced in March 2024.
Number built
At least one Oron aircraft publicly documented.

Specifications

Airframe
Gulfstream G550 business jet modified as an Israeli special-mission aircraft
Mission suite
IAI/ELTA AESA radar, SAR/GMTI ground-surveillance radar, electro-optical sensors, SIGINT equipment, communications, C4I systems, and AI-assisted Multi-INT data fusion
Operator
Israeli Air Force 122 Squadron (Nachshon)
Crew / mission personnel
Reported accommodation for eight intelligence officers, in addition to flight crew
Operating altitude
Reported operations above 40,000 ft; IAI says the aircraft can climb to 40,000 ft in about 25 minutes
Endurance
About 5-10 hours per mission in Israeli reporting; IAI describes roughly 10 hours airborne
Speed
IAI gives a cruise speed around 900 km/h
Role
Wide-area surveillance, intelligence collection, early warning, target generation, and strike-management support
Tracking function
IAI describes real-time tracking of ground and maritime targets under all weather and visibility conditions
Mission Architecture

Oron combines a long-range business-jet platform with Israeli mission systems rather than acting as a strike aircraft itself. Public sources describe radar, electro-optical, SIGINT, C4I, and onboard data-processing equipment used to build a real-time intelligence picture for commanders and strike forces.

Airframe

American-built Gulfstream G550 business jet adapted as an Israeli special-mission aircraft.

Mission systems

IAI/ELTA AESA radar, SAR/GMTI ground surveillance, electro-optical sensors, SIGINT, communications, and AI-assisted Multi-INT fusion.

Operator

Israeli Air Force 122 Squadron, the Nachshon squadron based at Nevatim.

Variants

Israel's Nachshon special-mission fleet uses Gulfstream business-jet airframes for distinct intelligence and command roles.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Gulfstream G500 Nachshon Shavit, Signals-intelligence and electronic-reconnaissance aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsNachshon ShavitGulfstream-based SIGINT aircraft

IAI describes Shavit as the earlier Nachshon special-mission aircraft focused on signals intelligence.

Sources: IAI Introducing the Oron

Gulfstream G550 Nachshon Eitam, Airborne early warning and control aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsNachshon EitamGulfstream G550 airborne early-warning and control aircraft

Janes and IAI describe Eitam as another modified G550 in 122 Squadron, with the Oron using the Eitam external configuration while adding multi-domain ISTAR capability.

Sources: Janes Israel Unveils Oron, IAI Introducing the Oron

Timeline

Gulfstream G550 Nachshon Oron Key Events

  1. Oron arrives at Nevatim

    The Israeli Air Force announced the arrival of the Oron aircraft at Nevatim Air Base for mission-system installation and integration.

    Sources: Janes Israel Unveils Oron

  2. Joint test flights begin

    Israel's Ministry of Defense announced Oron test flights, with Breaking Defense describing the aircraft as a multi-domain, multi-sensor ISR platform developed by the Ministry, IAI/ELTA, the IAF, the Intelligence Corps, and the Navy.

    Sources: Breaking Defense Oron Test Flights

  3. Operational use in Iron Swords reported

    Israeli reporting said Oron had become operational during the Gaza war and had logged hundreds of operational flight hours and nearly 100 missions.

    Sources: Ynet Oron Fully Operational, Janes Oron Operational

  4. Operation Rising Lion use described

    IAI described Oron as a significant contributor to Israeli intelligence and strike-management activity during the June 2025 operations against Iran.

    Sources: IAI Eyes in the Sky, IAI Introducing the Oron

  5. Israel Defense Prize announced

    IAI announced that the Shavit, Eitam, and Oron special-mission aircraft received the Israel Defense Prize after extensive Iron Swords operational use and Oron's rapid integration with 122 Squadron.

    Sources: IAI Defense Prize

Media

Gulfstream G550 Nachshon Oron Videos

Gulfstream G550 Nachshon Oron Images

Gulfstream G550 Nachshon Oron, Multi-mission intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: Commons Oron April 2021 IX
Related Weapon Systems
Gulfstream G550 Nachshon Eitam, Airborne early warning and control aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsGulfstream G550 Nachshon EitamAirborne early warning and control aircraftThe Gulfstream G550 Nachshon Eitam is Israel's conformal airborne early warning and control version of the G550 business jet, modified by Israel Aerospace Industries and ELTA with the EL/W-2085 AESA radar and mission systems. Operated by Israeli Air Force 122 Squadron, it provides airborne surveillance, battle management, and command-and-control support for air defense and long-range strike operations, including documented use during Iron Swords and the 2025 Israel-Iran conflict.
Gulfstream G500 Nachshon Shavit, Signals-intelligence and electronic-reconnaissance aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsGulfstream G500 Nachshon ShavitSignals-intelligence and electronic-reconnaissance aircraftThe Gulfstream G500 Nachshon Shavit is Israel's Gulfstream V/G500-based special electronic missions aircraft, converted for Israeli Air Force 122 Squadron with IAI/ELTA mission systems for signals intelligence, electronic reconnaissance, and long-range ISR support. Official IAI material describes Shavit as the Nachshon fleet's SIGINT aircraft for monitoring the electromagnetic spectrum, while public image and fleet sources identify it as the earlier Gulfstream V/G500 member alongside the G550 Eitam and Oron aircraft.
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Sources

IAI Introducing the OronPublisher: Israel Aerospace Industries | Note: Supports Oron background, Gulfstream G550 adaptation, IAI/ELTA mission systems, reported cost, crew and performance details, Nachshon family context, and direct 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict use during Operation Rising Lion. | Accessed: 2026-07-06IAI Eyes in the SkyPublisher: Israel Aerospace Industries | Note: Supports 122 Squadron context and direct 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict use: Oron was used by Israeli crews during the Iran sorties and provided intelligence support to attacking forces. | Accessed: 2026-07-06IAI Defense PrizePublisher: Israel Aerospace Industries | Note: Supports Nachshon family context, Oron's G550-based ISTAR mission system, rapid integration with 122 Squadron, and 2023 Israel-Hamas War direct use during Iron Swords with high availability and extensive operational hours. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Breaking Defense Oron Test FlightsPublisher: Breaking Defense | Note: Supports Oron development participants, sensor/C4I mission description, 122 Squadron assignment, MARS2 naming, and test-flight milestone. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Janes Israel Unveils OronPublisher: Janes | Note: Supports the April 2021 arrival, Gulfstream G550 airframe, IAI-led mission-system installation, ELTA AESA radar, electro-optical and SIGINT sensors, and 122 Squadron assignment. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Janes Oron OperationalPublisher: Janes | Note: Supports 2023 Israel-Hamas War direct use: Oron carried out missions in support of Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, with hundreds of operational flight hours and close to 100 sorties reported by Israel's Ministry of Defense. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Ynet Oron Fully OperationalPublisher: Ynetnews | Note: Supports 2023 Israel-Hamas War direct use: Israeli reporting describes Oron's accelerated operational approval during the Gaza war, missions over Rafah and other theaters, and hundreds of flight hours. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Commons Oron April 2021 IPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for an open-license IDF Spokesperson's Unit photograph of 122 Squadron receiving the Oron aircraft in April 2021. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Commons Oron April 2021 IXPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for an open-license IDF Spokesperson's Unit photograph of the Oron aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-07-06