NATO AWACS flies with modernised flight deck
Boeing has successfully completed the first flight of a NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft with a modernised flight deck and avionics systems, the company announced on 12 March.
The two-hour flight took place on 31 December 2014, during which the testers evaluated the five full-colour glass displays with customisable engine, radar and navigation data. According to the company, the system performance was better than expected, and the programme will now enter a flight test qualification phase.
A total of 14 NATO AWACS aircraft will get the flight deck modernisation, with the first aircraft scheduled to be delivered in January 2016.
The upgrade of the first NATO AWACS and the US Air Force's AWACS aircraft is part of a $394 million air force contract awarded in 2012.
The 13 additional NATO AWACS will have the upgrade installed as part of a $257 million modification effort. These modifications begin in 2016 and will be completed by 2018.
Jon Hunsberger, AWACS programme manager, Boeing, said: 'These improvements provide NATO with an AWACS fleet that will save time and fuel and will also decrease operational costs by allowing a reduction in the flight crew size.'
With this upgrade, the AWACS aircraft complies with current and future air traffic control and navigation requirements and gets broader access to airspace worldwide. All recurring issues related to the out-of-production avionics have been resolving using off-the-shelf, commercial digital avionics.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![EID to unveil new vehicle communication system at DSEI]()
EID to unveil new vehicle communication system at DSEI
The Portuguese company’s naval communications system is in service across more than a dozen countries. It has turned to its home nation for support in developing a new vehicle based C2 system.
-
![Chess Dynamics successfully demonstrates Vision4ce AI-driven tracker]()
Chess Dynamics successfully demonstrates Vision4ce AI-driven tracker
The Vision4ce Deep Embedded Feature Tracking (DEFT) technology software is designed to process video and images by blending traditional computer vision with artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to present actionable information from complex environments.
-
![Wave Relay devices cleared for security use on commercial systems in industry trend]()
Wave Relay devices cleared for security use on commercial systems in industry trend
Persistent Systems has been cleared by National Security Agency (NSA) to transmit sensitive data on commercial networks. The devices are added to the NSA’s Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) component list which also includes other companies’ products providing the same security.
-
![UK teases cyber spending boost in Strategic Defence Review ahead of “imminent” release]()
UK teases cyber spending boost in Strategic Defence Review ahead of “imminent” release
The release of the UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) has been long promised as mid-year. It is possible it could be as early as 2 June although the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) continues to play its cards close to its chest.
-
![Intelsat emphasises SATCOM resilience for SOF in contested domains (video)]()
Intelsat emphasises SATCOM resilience for SOF in contested domains (video)
Intelsat outlines how its multi-orbit SATCOM architecture is enhancing connectivity and resilience for special operations forces operating in degraded and contested environments.
-
![US Space Force’s next-generation missile warning system moves forward with $500 million in new contracts]()
US Space Force’s next-generation missile warning system moves forward with $500 million in new contracts
Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) satellites are intended to provide early warning of missile launches from any location worldwide and new ground stations will result in expanded coverage of critical missile warning.
