USAF and Nato advance E-3 AWACS upgrade programme - Airforce Technology (2024)

The US Air Force and Nato are continuing the modernisation of their E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft, as part of the diminishing manufacturing sources replacement of avionics for global operations and navigation (DRAGON) programme.

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Under the programme, the aircraft’s existing technology will be updated with commercially available, digital avionics systems, while retaining all aircraft infrastructure such as engines, airframe and mission systems.

The aircraft will be fitted with digital, satellite-based communications, modern flight management system suite architecture, and a digital cockpit comprising five glass display screens, which will provide aircrews with easy-to-use and customisable engine, navigation and situational awareness data.

Additional equipment to be installed includes weather radar that can predict wind shear, an enhanced ground proximity warning system and a fully digital flight deck audio distribution system.

DRAGON logistics manager Rob Stewart said: "This cooperative effort is important because it leverages the 95% design commonality between the US and Nato AWACS, and promotes interoperability, interchangeability, cost sharing and a common sustainment and logistics pipeline."

As part of the flight deck upgrade, the majority of E-3’s analogue indicators will be replaced with modern digital multicolour graphic displays, while updated airspace-compliant subsystems avionics will replace nearly all of the aircraft’s avionics.

The upgrade is also expected to facilitate the removal of the navigator, while adding a mode-5 identification friend or foe capability and reducing the crew size from four to three.

"The aircraft will be fitted with digital, satellite-based communications."

In addition, the flight deck modernisation will ensure that both US and Nato AWACS fleets meet the International Civil Aviation Organization’s new flight mandates and have broader access to airspace.

Despite jointly working through risk reduction, engineering, manufacturing and development phases, Nato and the USAF will award separate contracts for the production, deployment and operational stages.

Boeing currently holds the current engineering, manufacturing and development contract, and has installed one digital flight deck and avionics system onto the first Nato aircraft. The company is scheduled to install another system onto an USAF test aircraft in the coming months.

The Nato AWACS is scheduled to undergo ground testing this month, followed by a first test flight in November.

Meanwhile, the air force expects to take delivery of 24 updated E-3s by the fourth quarter of 2025.

Image: A Nato E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system aircraft in flight. Photo: courtesy of Jwh.

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Latest Updates on the Ukraine/Russia Crisis

Whilst at its core a humanitarian crisis, the Russian invasion of Ukraine risks adding materially to existing global economic and supply challenges. We are likely heading into a period in which geopolitics will become a regular part of boardroom discussions.Recent developments have seen Russian companies make significant progress around the world to supply countries with equipment in various Aerospace, Defense & Security sectors. This means that countries dependent on Russian arms for their security calculations should review all purchases and clauses regarding their programs and payments.Download GlobalData’s 5^th Ukraine Conflict Executive Briefing to learn more.This report is part of a continued series that is renewed monthly with the latest data and analysis, as the conflict develops and has wider implications across sectors.Access the latest macro-economic forecasts, charts with the latest data, and our updated sanctions tracker, as well as our updated sector scorecards to reflect the current views on the impact of the crisis at a company level.

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By GlobalData