Boeing today announced that it has delivered the 500th Combat Track II kit, an airborne intelligence system for US Air Force cargo and bomber aircraft that enhances situational awareness, increases aircrew survivability and improves airframe effectiveness.

The 500th unit is part of the current production lot of 46 that was awarded to Boeing in April. Boeing has received $100 million in Combat Track II contracts since 1995.

"These systems allow air crews to respond to threats more quickly and effectively," said Capt. Scott Frank, Air Force program manager for Combat Track. "Combat Track II has become critical to our mission, providing timely intelligence to support combat forces."

The 500th system will be deployed to the 17th Air Force at Ramstein Air Base in Germany in support of the United States Africa Command. The systems also are installed on C-130, C-17, B-52 and B-1 aircraft operated by the Air Force Air Mobility Command, Air Combat Command, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves.

"These systems allow warfighters to quickly respond to changing threat conditions with rapid, secure communications," said Dewey Houck, Boeing Intelligence and Security Systems director of Mission Systems. "This net-enabled capability enhances a warfighter's situational awareness and improves decision-making with tools that speed up information-sharing."

The Combat Track II system provides aircrews with command and control information as well as secure, beyond line-of-sight, encrypted communications between the aircraft and Air Operations Centers worldwide.