Multi-Function ISTAR & Electronic Warfare Mission Aircraft
Air Keeper™ KC-390 is a dual-role, multi-mission Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) and Electronic Warfare (EW) aircraft developed by Elbit Systems' Elisra division in collaboration with Embraer. Based on the proven KC-390 platform, the solution combines cargo transport capabilities with advanced ISR, SIGINT, Electronic Support, Electronic Attack and mission management systems in a single aircraft.
Designed for rapid mission adaptation, Air Keeper enables operators to switch between transport and special-mission configurations through a Roll-On/Roll-Off architecture, allowing a single fleet to perform a wider range of operational tasks while reducing acquisition and lifecycle costs.
Air Keeper™ KC-390 is a multi-mission aircraft that integrates ISR, SIGINT and Electronic Warfare capabilities into the Embraer KC-390 platform. The aircraft enables military operators to conduct intelligence collection, surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic support and electronic attack missions while maintaining the flexibility of a transport aircraft.
The platform was designed to provide the operational benefits of dedicated special mission aircraft while maximizing fleet utilization through dual-role operations.
Integrated ISTAR and Electronic Warfare Capabilities
Air Keeper combines intelligence gathering and electronic warfare functions within a single operational platform.
The aircraft supports:
- Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR)
- Electronic Intelligence (ELINT)
- Communications Intelligence (COMINT)
- Electronic Support Measures (ESM)
- Electronic Countermeasures (ECM)
- Communications Jamming (COMJAM)
- Airborne Electronic Attack
- SATCOM connectivity
- EO/IR intelligence collection
Unlike traditional special mission aircraft that focus primarily on surveillance or intelligence collection, Air Keeper enables electronic attack capabilities to be integrated into the same mission, reducing the need for multiple supporting assets.
AI-Enabled Mission Management
Operational Advantages
Providing full spectrum 0.5-40 GHz coverage, ESM/ELINT capabilities are integrated into the EW subsystems to automatically detect, measure, identify, monitor and intercept all ground-based, shipborne and airborne radar signals. ELINT systems provide uninterrupted platform protection, surveillance, early warning, information gathering and storage, geo-location and data analysis.
The ECM system simultaneously detects, locates and selectively jams enemy targets – both automatically and manually delivering the significant operational advantage of pinpoint neutralization of enemy systems while handling multiple threats in parallel. The system brings advanced Electromagnetic Counter Measures (ECM) capabilities to all echelons – strategic, divisional and tactical levels.
An array of Communications, Intelligence and Direction Finding (COMINT/DF) systems – providing advanced demodulation classification and agile signal detection capabilities – operate over HF-6 GHz frequency bands. They deliver a real-time display of the arena activity, furnishing ultra-fast, accurate DF range measurement in dense environments – and providing a full modular solution for cellular SIGINT and EW. Integration with COMJAM capabilities enables reliable land, sea and air coverage – serving both strategic and tactical objectives.
Combining extremely advanced algorithms and components, the most sophisticated Communications Jamming systems cope with conventional as well as today's most advanced methods, including frequency-hopping. A “look- through” mechanism for reception and activity detection enables precisely-timed selective jamming of targeted signals as well as prioritization of targets. Able to withstand the harshest combat environments, Elisra’s COMJAM systems are adaptable to all platforms – and can escort frontline forces.
The Command, Control, Communication, Computer and Intelligence Systems form the advanced, user-friendly interface that facilitates efficient, accurate and timely operation. Connecting the human factor with the system’s SIGINT and EW elements, the fully integrated system processes and exploits the intelligence gathered by the COMINT/DF and ESM/ELINT stations and manages the missions accordingly.
The system enables the optional integration with self-protection solutions for airborne platforms, including IR Self-Protection, MWS (Missile Warning System), RWR (Radar Warning Receiver), Jamming System, CMDS (Counter Measures Dispensing System) and Voice and Data Communications.
The system includes a bidirectional satellite data link with a ground satellite station, which enables data transmission, transmission/reception of commands (such as voice) and transmission of information between the aircraft and the ground station. The information, which is presented to the ESM operator, is also transferred to the ground station via the SATCOM system, allowing the display of a real-time identical scenario on the ground.
