Leonardo assists NATO AWACS overhaul

24th May 2021 - 12:09 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

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One of the 14 aircraft in the NATO fleet of E-3A Sentry AWACS aircraft. (Photo: Boeing)

Leonardo will provide a hardware upgrade for the NATO E-3A Sentry fleet under a subcontract from Boeing.

As lead contractor for the NATO Final Lifetime Extension Programme (FLEP) for the alliance’s fleet of E-3A Sentry airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft, Boeing has chosen Leonardo to provide a hardware upgrade for the first test aircraft.

‘The activity, to be completed within 2023, includes the installation and checkout of newly developed hardware,’ Leonardo announced on 21 May.

The company will then provide support during the final test phase at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen (home to the 14 AWACS aircraft operated by the alliance).

Leonardo announced in April that its new SWave SRT-800 software-defined radio will equip the NATO AWACS fleet.

The NATO AEWC Program Management Agency oversees FLEP. The programme aims to ensure the NATO E-3A fleet remains in service until 2035 and potentially beyond, by addressing mandated upgrades for communications systems, mission computing hardware and software.

NATO E-3A AWACS fleet received a communication, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management modification upgrade between 2016 and 2019, Shephard Defence Insight notes.