IAI Ellyon

History

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) unveiled the Ellyon multi-mission aircraft concept on 20 July 2026. Developed by IAI's ELTA Systems division, Ellyon is intended to combine electronic attack with intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance functions in one airborne system. The announced sensor set includes signals intelligence, long-range synthetic-aperture radar and ground-moving-target indication, electro-optical sensing and wide-band satellite communications.

IAI describes Ellyon as a stand-off platform able to collect and classify intelligence while conducting electronic countermeasures against radar and communications systems. An artificial-intelligence-based mission management system is intended to fuse data from onboard sensors, generate intelligence products and transmit them in real time to command centers, ground stations and other aircraft.

The 2026 presentation showed the system on a modified Bombardier Global 6500 business jet, but IAI states that Ellyon is platform-agnostic and can be integrated on multiple large business-jet types. Contemporary coverage described the released imagery as concept renderings or illustrative video rather than evidence of a completed Ellyon aircraft. The cited material does not identify a customer, operator, completed prototype, first-flight date or service-entry date.

Development and unveiling

IAI presented Ellyon as part of ELTA's established family of special-mission intelligence aircraft. The company said the technologies integrated in the system are operationally proven in earlier programs, while Ellyon itself represents a new integration of intelligence collection, electronic attack and AI-assisted mission management. The official IAI announcement emphasized simultaneous radar and communications jamming, long-range sensing and real-time distribution of intelligence.

The public unveiling coincided with the Farnborough 2026 period. Breaking Defense reported that the demonstration video depicted a modified Global 6500 operating with onboard mission consoles, electronic-attack functions, intelligence collection and an AESA radar. Israel Defense likewise described the system as combining electronic warfare, intelligence gathering and AI-based data processing from stand-off distances of hundreds of kilometers.

Design

Airframe and integration

The configuration presented in 2026 used the Bombardier Global 6500 as the representative carrier aircraft. IAI nevertheless describes Ellyon as independent of a single airframe and suitable for integration on multiple large business jets. Public imagery shows a heavily modified special-mission layout with external fairings and antennas associated with its sensor and communications suite, but the supplied sources do not provide confirmed dimensions, weight, crew size or propulsion changes for an Ellyon conversion.

Sensors and intelligence systems

Ellyon's announced intelligence suite includes high-sensitivity communications-intelligence and electronic-intelligence systems for detecting, locating and recording hostile communications and emitters. IAI also lists a long-range multi-mode active electronically scanned array radar with synthetic-aperture radar and ground-moving-target-indication functions. The Aviationist reported that the radar is described for air-to-ground strip and spot imaging, air-to-sea operation and an air-to-air mode. A high-resolution multispectral long-range electro-optical/infrared payload is intended to support target identification and classification.

Electronic attack and self-protection

The electronic-attack suite is designed for full-spectrum operations against airborne and ground-based threats. IAI states that its wideband AESA stand-off jammer can form multiple independently steered beams and can conduct radar jamming against several targets. Ellyon is also intended to perform communications jamming during the same mission, allowing coordinated effects against communications networks, radars and integrated air-defense systems. A self-protection suite provides threat detection, warning, electronic countermeasures and protective functions for the host aircraft.

Mission management and communications

An AI-based multi-mission management system is intended to process and fuse large volumes of sensor data while reducing crew workload. The system generates intelligence insights and distributes them through tactical data links, line-of-sight communications and satellite communications. Reported communications equipment includes secure HF, VHF and UHF radios, wideband line-of-sight links and SATCOM. IAI also states that Ellyon supports manned-unmanned teaming with unmanned aircraft. ITONnews independently summarized the same combination of sensor fusion, satellite distribution, electronic jamming and self-protection in its coverage of the unveiling.

Program status

As described in the supplied 2026 sources, Ellyon was a newly unveiled multi-mission aircraft system presented through renderings, models and illustrative material. IAI stated that the underlying technologies were operationally proven in its wider intelligence-aircraft family, but the sources do not establish that an Ellyon-configured aircraft had been completed or flown. No operator, production order or in-service fleet is identified in the available material.

Specifications (Ellyon configuration presented in 2026)

General characteristics

• Type: Multi-mission electronic-attack and ISTAR aircraft system.
• Representative carrier aircraft: Modified Bombardier Global 6500 business jet.
• Platform integration: Designed to be platform-agnostic and adaptable to multiple large business jets.
• Stand-off concept: Intended to operate from hundreds of kilometers from the target area while reducing exposure of the host aircraft.

Mission systems

• Electronic attack: Full-spectrum radar and communications jamming, including simultaneous radar-jamming and communications-jamming functions.
• Radar: Long-range multi-mode AESA radar with SAR and GMTI functions; reported modes include air-to-ground, air-to-sea and air-to-air operation.
• Signals intelligence: COMINT and ELINT systems for intercepting, locating and recording communications and emitters.
• Electro-optical sensing: High-resolution multispectral long-range EO/IR payload for target identification and classification.
• Mission management: AI- and machine-learning-assisted sensor fusion and multi-mission management.
• Communications: Secure HF/VHF/UHF radios, tactical data link, wideband line-of-sight communications and wide-band SATCOM.
• Self-protection: Threat detection, warning, electronic countermeasures and protection functions.
• Cooperative operations: Support for manned-unmanned teaming with unmanned aircraft.

Related equipment

• IAI Oron: Gulfstream G550-based Israeli multi-intelligence aircraft combining SIGINT and ISTAR functions within ELTA's broader special-mission aircraft family.
• IAI Shavit: Gulfstream-based special electronic mission aircraft used for signals-intelligence missions.
• IAI Eitam: Gulfstream G550-based conformal airborne early-warning aircraft using ELTA radar technology.