Persistent airborne awareness, seamless coordination across domains, and the ability to connect fifth-generation assets are no longer optional – they are foundational to effective deterrence and coalition operations.
Yet many AEW&C fleets were designed for a different era. Aging architectures, long delivery timelines, rising sustainment costs and upgrade-dependent roadmaps are forcing governments to reassess how quickly and affordably they can field credible airborne surveillance and battle management. Recent program delays and cancellations have only reinforced a growing reality: demand for AEW&C capability is increasing, while available solutions are not keeping pace.
AERIS: The Fifth-Generation AEW&C Setting the New Standard
That gap is driving demand for AERIS (pronounced “AIR-iss”), a next-generation AEW&C family built on proven missionized business jet platforms. Designed from the outset for fifth-generation interoperability, AERIS enables real-time connectivity with allied aircraft, sensors and command-and-control networks, delivering faster decision-making in contested environments.
AERIS outperforms legacy and competing AEW&C platforms across every critical dimension:
- Flies Higher, Faster and Farther: AERIS operates at higher altitudes for extended radar horizon and survivability, cruises faster to reach operating areas more quickly and delivers greater range than other non-air-refueling capable platforms for persistent coverage, reducing the number of aircraft needed for continuous operations.
- Superior Radar Performance: AERIS features an advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar providing true 360-degree coverage with enhanced detection range, tracking accuracy and resistance to jamming – critical advantages in contested electromagnetic environments.
- Next-Generation Communications Suite: Purpose-built for multi-domain operations, AERIS integrates advanced SATCOM, line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight communications, ensuring seamless connectivity across coalition forces and enabling real-time information sharing in degraded environments.
- Advanced Mission Management System: AERIS employs an intuitive, AI-enabled mission management system that reduces operator workload, accelerates threat assessment and enables faster decision cycles, giving commanders actionable intelligence when seconds matter.
- Unmatched Link Connectivity: With advanced Link 16, Link 22 and emerging tactical data link integration, AERIS serves as the critical node connecting fifth-generation fighters, naval assets, ground-based air defense and joint command networks, delivering true multi-domain awareness and coordination.
The AERIS family is available in two configurations, offering flexibility while maintaining a common mission system architecture. AERIS X is based on the Bombardier Global 6500 platform, while AERIS A is based on the Gulfstream G550. Both configurations deliver true 360-degree air surveillance and battle management, enabling customers to select the aircraft platform that best aligns with their operational, infrastructure and sustainment needs without sacrificing capability or interoperability.
TOP: AERIS X Bombardier Global 6500 variant, BOTTOM: AERIS A Gulfstream G550 variant.
Superior Readiness and Sustainment
Readiness is where AERIS fundamentally differentiates itself from other AEW&C platforms. Built on a mature, high-technology-readiness solution and backed by an experienced design and manufacturing team, AERIS is ready to be delivered. L3Harris has delivered more than 100 missionized business jets, with additional business jet aircraft modifications currently on order.
Just as critical, AERIS offers lower acquisition and lifecycle costs compared to legacy AEW&C platforms, with maintenance and sustainment designed to be supported by local industry and national air forces. In an environment where affordability and availability increasingly shape force structure decisions, this approach enables air forces to modernize faster without waiting on future upgrades to achieve full capability.
The Clear Choice for Modern Air Forces
The market has spoken. The Republic of Korea selected L3Harris’ next-generation AEW&C solution – a decisive validation of superior capability, readiness and value.
This win reflects a fundamental shift in how air forces evaluate AEW&C platforms: performance, interoperability and rapid fielding now outweigh legacy approaches that promise capability years into the future.
Korea has already made their decision. As the threat environment continues to evolve, air forces worldwide face a clear imperative: field AEW&C solutions that are interoperable, survivable, affordable and ready now. AERIS is designed to meet that moment, strengthening deterrence, enabling coalition operations and giving commanders the clarity needed to act decisively when it matters most.
When performance, interoperability and readiness define mission success, AERIS stands alone.
