The US Air Force (USAF) is to acquire up to eight further Gulfstream G550 (designated C-37B in military service) aircraft to be used for Special Airlift Mission (SAM) requirements, it was disclosed on 31 January. The Gulfstream G550 is a business jet aircraft produced by General Dynamics’ Gulfstream Aerospace unit in Savannah, Georgia, US. The aircraft was kept in limited production for long-term special missions applications and government orders.
Gulfstream C-37B provides airlift for US government and other high-ranking dignitaries. The USAF plans to replace its five remaining C-20B (Gulfstream IIIs) with a total of 22 C-37A/Bs. A sole-source notification posted by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center said that Gulfstream is to be contracted to deliver two aircraft in January 2022, with options for a further six at a later date. The total value of the proposed seal is USD612.8 million.
