While there is nothing new in the use of business aircraft in 'special mission' applications, particularly in the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) role, a confluence of mission system developments, airframe capabilities, operational requirements and economics have come together to create a strong demand for such solutions. In terms of mission systems, developments in computing and sensor technology are facilitating ever greater capabilities in ever smaller packages, while the lift and range capabilities of the latest generation of (particularly) business jets are such as to allow for the execution of an ever widening range of missions. Again, the operational environment is seeing an increasing blurring of divisions between military and paramilitary taskings (with business aircraft-based solutions being particularly attractive in the homeland security/border control role), while the economics of operating aircraft that have large production runs and are supported by global maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) networks have a major appeal to even the world's most sophisticated military users. Equally, business jet-based solutions are increasingly being seen as an affordable way to replace legacy bespoke systems (such as the Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint STARS) that are based on increasingly obsolete airframes that have become difficult and costly to keep flying.
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