Boeing gets $250 million to Upgrade NATO AWACS Fleet Research and Development

Boeing has been awarded a contract worth $250 million by NATO to set up digital flight decks and avionics on 13 of the alliance’s Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, which are based on the Boeing 707 commercial airplane.

The new technology assures conformity with present and future air traffic control and navigation demands, providing the aircraft wider access to airspace around the world.

According to Jon Hunsberger, Boeing AWACS program manager - Enlarging airspace access results in enhanced mission efficiency by saving time and fuel throughout operations. The modifications also facilitate the pilot and co-pilot user-friendly and tailor-make engine, navigation and radar data.

Further, the improvements will facilitate in a cost savings in personnel because the flight deck crew will be cut down from four to three. It also clears the challenge of detecting out-of-production avionics for the AWACS fleet by applying easily available commercial-off-the-shelf digital avionics. The modernization commence in 2016 and will be done by 2018.

Boeing installed a new digital flight deck and avionics on one NATO AWACS, under a previous Engineering Manufacturing and Development (EMD) contract. Flight testing starts in the fourth quarter of this year with delivery expected for December 2015. Boeing will also enhance the flight deck and avionics of a U.S. AWACS aircraft starting this November, as part of the EMD contract.