Australia’s Department of Defence has declared the Royal Australian Air Force’s MC-55A Peregrine to have reached initial operational capability after extensive testing and evaluation. The Gulfstream/L3Harris aircraft is based at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia and operated by No. 10 Squadron, with three of the four aircraft now delivered and the final example due later in 2026.
The milestone moves the Peregrine from development into operational use, expanding Australia’s airborne intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare capacity for Defence missions. It also comes alongside wider progress in the country’s air ISR fleet, including completion of the 14-aircraft P-8A Poseidon force and initial operational capability for the MQ-4C Triton. Media coverage on the same day confirmed the Peregrine’s operational status and identified it as part of a broader capability update centred on Edinburgh near Adelaide.