Gulfstream G400 and G300 On Track to Complete the New Fleet

Gulfstream says its two newest aircraft, the G400 and G300, are progressing toward certification and will join the fleet "very soon." Speaking at NBAA-BACE in October 2026, company president Mark Burns made clear that demand is not the issue: "If we could build more airplanes tonight, we could sell more airplanes today."

Both aircraft are still in flight testing, and Gulfstream is deliberately declining to put a date on when they will be certified.

Two aircraft, two segments

The G400 is the large-cabin aircraft intended to complete Gulfstream's new-generation family. It is aimed at a part of the market Gulfstream says it created with the G4 and G450 and now wants to serve again with an all-new product. Scott Evans, Gulfstream's Director of Demonstration, ACS and Corporate Flight Operations, described it as a space that needs a new aircraft.

The G300 refreshes the super-midsize segment previously served by the G280. It is being co-developed with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

Where the programs stand

The G400 first flew in August 2024 and was originally due for first deliveries in 2026. Its test fleet is now complete at four aircraft: three dedicated to systems and performance certification, and a fourth fitted with a full interior. That interior aircraft made its first flight on October 14, 2026, from Dallas Love Field, starting the work toward a supplemental type certificate for the cabin so it is ready alongside the airframe.

The three systems and performance aircraft are currently in company flight testing, the phase before certification flight testing. Recent work includes a flight of about 3.5 hours at around 48,000 ft, icing tests, and flammable-fluid drainage testing. On its way to NBAA-BACE, a G400 test aircraft also set a city-pair speed record from Miami to Las Vegas, covering the trip in 4 hours 8 minutes at an average of Mach 0.89.

The G300 first flew in December 2025 from Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel, and first deliveries are provisionally planned for 2028. Burns said it is only slightly behind the G400. A third test aircraft is being assembled by Israel Aerospace Industries in Tel Aviv, and Gulfstream expects the test pace to pick up as more aircraft join.

Why there is no certification date

Gulfstream will not predict when either aircraft will be certified. Burns noted that the decision rests with the authorities, including the FAA, Transport Canada and Brazil's ANAC. Certification programs across the industry have become longer as regulators apply stricter requirements, particularly on software validation.

Gulfstream's recent history shows how much timelines can vary. The G700 was certified in March 2024, about two years later than originally expected. The G800, which first flew in 2022, followed in April 2025, just 34 months later. Burns says the G800 benefited from more modern certification tools, that the G400 should gain from the same approach, and that he sees no performance or other issues holding it back.

What it means for buyers and owners

With no firm certification dates, buyers considering a new G400 or G300 should plan around some uncertainty on timing; the G300's provisional 2028 delivery target is the clearest marker so far. Strong demand, as Burns described it, also suggests delivery positions may be in short supply once the aircraft are certified.

For owners of a G450 or G280, the arrival of new aircraft aimed at their segments is worth factoring into any decision to upgrade, hold or sell.

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