U.S. Air Force orders 26 Boeing E-7 AEW&C command and control aircraft
Boeing on Tuesday Feb. 28 was awarded a $1.2B contract to develop two new U.S. variants of the E-7 Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) airplane.
The U.S. Air Force plans eventually to buy 26 of the planes to replace its fleet of older E-3 AWACs, based on the Boeing 707 airliner and 68 where built between 1977 and 1992.
The E-7 provides a fully integrated, combat-proven, flexible command and control node that delivers multi-domain awareness in the most challenging operational environments. The E-7A can track airborne targets and provide data in real time while also controlling and directing other aircraft.
The E-7’s open systems architecture and agile software design enable the aircraft’s capabilities to evolve and remain ahead of future threats. The jet tracks multiple airborne and maritime threats simultaneously with 360-degree coverage via the Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) sensor. MESA provides the warfighter with critical domain awareness to detect and identify adversarial targets at long range and dynamically adjusts to emerging tactical situations.
“The E-7 is a proven platform,” said Stu Voboril, E-7 program vice president and general manager. “It is the only advanced aircraft that is capable of meeting the U.S. Air Force’s near-term Airborne Early Warning & Control requirement while enabling integration across the joint force.”
The Air Force estimated the first plane will be in service by fiscal year 2027. It expects to buy an additional 24 E-&As by fiscal 2032.
The E-7 uses a well-established supply chain which significantly reduces maintenance and logistics costs and increases mission readiness on day one. Converted from the Next-Generation Boeing 737-700ER airliner, the E-7 capitalizes on existing commercial derivative aircraft design, certification and modification processes, allowing E-7s to be fielded to meet Air Force needs.
Other E-7 operators include the Royal Australian Air Force, Republic of Korea Air Force, Turkish Air Force and the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force, according to Boeing.