National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOA, Lakeland) has firmed an option for a G550 from Gulfstream Aerospace, increasing its order book for the type to two.

The aircraft will support hurricane and tropical storm forecasts, atmospheric research, and other NOAA missions. The US government agency will spend USD106 million on the custom-equipped aircraft, scheduled for delivery in 2028.

NOAA already had one G550 on firm order with expected delivery in 2025. The first of the two aircraft will replace the agency's current 29.3-year-old heavily modified GIV-SP, N49RF (msn 1246), while the second will grow its hurricane research fleet. Both will be based out of the NOAA's flight operations centre at Lakeland, Florida.

"These new state-of-the-art aircraft will greatly enhance NOAA's ability to gather data critical to hurricane research and forecasting, atmospheric river research and forecasting, climate studies and other missions," NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said.

The NOAA also operates two customised Lockheed WP-3D Orion quad turboprop aircraft, which are tasked with low-altitude research.