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
-
![Israel sets up new department to boost development of AI and autonomy]()
Israel sets up new department to boost development of AI and autonomy
Israel will continue to develop autonomy for its weapons and platforms as it brings together defence personnel, academia and industry.
-
![Clavister contracted to supply cyber protection for CV90s]()
Clavister contracted to supply cyber protection for CV90s
Clavister CyberArmour, an integrated defence cybersecurity system, will be used on BAE Systems Hägglunds’ CV90 platform in deployments with a Scandinavian country, as well as in an eastern European nation.
-
![Lockheed Martin completes tactical satellite demonstration and prepares for launch]()
Lockheed Martin completes tactical satellite demonstration and prepares for launch
The tactical satellite (TacSat) is an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system and will participate in exercises in 2025.
-
![AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family]()
AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family
The airborne three-domain, the two ground-based and the ¼ ATR OpenVPX-based cross-domain systems were engineered to provide real-time security across multi-domain operations.
-
![BAE Systems gets go-ahead for second phase of mission communications programme]()
BAE Systems gets go-ahead for second phase of mission communications programme
DARPA’s Mission-Integrated Network Control (MINC) programme was set up to develop an autonomous tactical network and enable critical data flow in contested environments.
-
![Just Released: Space Technology Report]()
Just Released: Space Technology Report
Why space is an essential part of modern military capabilities
