Paraguayan Air Force receives four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft
Six Super Tucano aircraft were ordered in July 2024, with Paraguay the fifth South American country to add the aircraft to modernise its fleet.
USAF demonstrates new AWACS capability
This recent demonstration is a result of the Airborne Cooperative EW Integrated Reprogrammable Exchange, or ACEWIRE, concept. (Photo: US Air Force)
The USAF’s recent AWACS demonstration proves its ability to quickly update software, especially mission files, during flight.
The USAF’s E-3G airborne warning and control system aircraft (AWACS) has, for the first time, demonstrated the ability to receive and process in-air EW software updates derived from EW data collected and transmitted during flight.
The E-3G Sentry, operated by the AWACS Combined Test Force, updated its electronic support measures database while in flight over central Texas with a file transmitted from its reprogramming centre at Eglin AFB in Florida using BLoS SATCOM.
The aircraft collected EW information and transmitted the data back to Eglin AFB. Within an hour, the data had been analysed, deficiencies were corrected and the data was transmitted back to the E-3G for immediate loading during the mission.
Lt Col Dameion Briggs explained: ‘This is a big deal because it takes a process that can normally take months, down to hours. It enables the E-3G crews to update their sensor information in near real time.’
The test was made possible using the E-3G’s upgraded satellite communications system called Internet Protocol Enabled Communications and its more flexible mission computing system.
While the USAF continues to operate and upgrade the E-3G Sentry, the service also launched its effort to replace the aircraft earlier this year, in February.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Air Warfare
-
![Paraguayan Air Force receives four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft]()
-
![Baykar completes Piaggio Aerospace takeover with plans to boost drone production]()
Baykar completes Piaggio Aerospace takeover with plans to boost drone production
The takeover of the Italian firm by Baykar solidifies the company’s efforts to forge closer ties with Italian industry, bolsters its partnership with Leonardo to produce UAVs and secures its foothold in Europe.
-
![US budget boosts Boeing’s F-15EX with $3.1 billion investment to increase fleet to 129]()
US budget boosts Boeing’s F-15EX with $3.1 billion investment to increase fleet to 129
The F-15EX Eagle II had already been singled out for further funding in January 2025, when it was chosen to replace the A-10 aircraft for the US National Guard.
-
![Spain earmarks $1.6 billion for Hurjet trainer aircraft acquisition]()
Spain earmarks $1.6 billion for Hurjet trainer aircraft acquisition
Spain’s Defence Minister told the Senate Defense Commission on 27 June of the decision to acquire Turkish Aerospace Industries’ (TAI) trainers as the country seeks to replace its Northrop F-5M aircraft.
-
![Leonardo’s Proteus structural tests “nearing completion” ahead of first flight]()
Leonardo’s Proteus structural tests “nearing completion” ahead of first flight
The company has tested over 15 mission sets for the drone, with the rotorcraft used to demonstrate the viability of armed forces utilising large uncrewed aerial systems’ (UAS) for autonomous missions in the future.
-
![US Navy’s FA-XX programme still an “option”, as FY2026 US defence budget outline proposed]()
US Navy’s FA-XX programme still an “option”, as FY2026 US defence budget outline proposed
The US Navy’s answer to a sixth-generation fighter has experienced a range of setbacks and delays to the programme, with only $47 million in this latest proposed budget set aside for completing the aircraft.
