THIRD AWACS TO BE DELIVERED IN SEPTEMBER

The airborne early warning and control aircraft (AWACS) project initiated in order to ensure complete and uninterrupted surveillance of Turkey's surroundings and to manage air traffic when necessary is drawing to an end. According to Turkish Daily Dünya, the third aircraft will be delivered to Turkey in September.

The project named as "Eagle of Peace," which consisted of the purchase of four aircraft had been delayed for seven years and the first aircraft was delivered in February and the other one in May. The last aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in the first half of 2015. The aircraft can track and identify more than one thousand aircraft and sea vehicles. Along with exploration and surveillance functions, the aircraft can also transfer voice and data files required for communication during air traffic control. Turkish companies have a TL 576 million share in the Eagle of Peace Project.

The Eagle of Peace airborne early warning aircraft are capable of performing the duties of more than 100 radars without being affected by geographical restrains. They can also perform the backup task in case of a failure with ground radars. Dünya further noted that the total liability of Turkey in this project is around $1.5 billion (TL 3.23 billion).

India planning to procure two more AWACS for IAF: Indian Government

India is planning to procure two more Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) for the Indian Air Force, Submariners World was informed today.

"Three AWACS are already operationalised in the IAF and there is a proposal for procurement of two additional AWACS," Defence Minister A K Antony said in a written reply.

He said the long-term integrated perspective plan seeks to have a mix of large AWACS aircraft and small Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system aircraft.

DRDO is also working towards developing indigenous AEW and C system on the Embraer aircraft and it is expected to be completed within 84 months.

To another query, Antony said, "Due to inclement weather, heavy snow accumulation, avalanches and landslides fencing along the LoC gets damaged."

The government is aware that terrorists attempt infiltration throughout the year including during the winter months when the fence is covered by snow or repair works are in progress, he said.

Antony said additional proactive measures in terms of surveillance and troop deployment are undertaken to foil infiltration attempts.

Procurement - Screwing The French

The U.S. has angered the French Air Force by reneging on a 2010 contract to upgrade the four French E-3F AWACS (Air Warning And Control System) aircraft. The agreed on price is $466 million, and now the U.S. wants to tack on another $5 million so the promised technology can be degraded. This is all because some American bureaucrat decided that some of the upgrade technology was too sensitive for the French and had to be taken out of the upgrade. The French are being asked to pay for this change. The French are not happy. The U.S. insists such changes are allowed for these deals but are having a hard time convincing the French.

The upgrade will replace ancient (mainframe based) computers with PC type networked hardware. This will enable regular upgrades with new processors and data storage equipment. New software will introduce a Windows type interface and joysticks. This is similar to an upgrade performed on American AWACS. French AWACS will remain able to closely cooperate with E-3 type AWACS used by other nations. The new American restrictions mainly involve new software.

E-3 AWACS development began in the late 1960s, and the first prototypes were flying in the late 1970s, and it went into regular use in 1982. Flying far enough inside friendly territory to avoid enemy anti-aircraft missiles, the AWACS radar has a range of between 200 km (for small aircraft or cruise missiles flying close to the ground) to 600 km (for large aircraft flying at high altitude). The AWACS tracks several hundred friendly and enemy aircraft at once. The AWACS acts as an airborne command center for aircraft. Friendly planes are kept out of each other's' way (there has not been a friendly air-to-air collusion since the 1991 Gulf war and the first major use of the E-3). Enemy aircraft are spotted, identified and friendly interceptors assigned to take care of the threat. One or more AWACS is used to control an air operation and each can stay up eleven hours at a time, or up to 22 hours with refueling and extra crew on board to man the equipment. The AWACS functions as a combination radar platform and command center.

During its first wartime workout, during the 1991 Gulf war, the AWACS proved its worth, often in more ways than anticipated. The use of over a hundred tankers to refuel combat aircraft would not have been possible without the AWACS being there to efficiently link tankers and aircraft needing fuel. Forming up the Wild Weasels (electronic warfare aircraft), and coordinating their use with the bombers they escorted, was much easier using an AWACS. Just keeping track of who was who and going where would not have been possible without the AWACS. The communications equipment on board an AWACS allows information gathered by one AWACS to be quickly shared with other AWACS in the vicinity, other combat aircraft in the area as well as units at sea or on the ground. This function, which was eventually made to work, gave generals and admirals the goal of trying to link together all the sensor and communications of every ship, aircraft, and ground unit in the area. But first, an AWACS for ground operations was needed.

The Gulf War experience was immediately put to use during the Afghanistan war and insured that the bombers, and the aerial tankers that kept everyone flying, were always where they were needed. This was later repeated in the 2003 Iraq war. This sort of thing doesn't make the news but without AWACS a lot of those newsworthy bombs would have never made it to their targets.

New AEW Testbed Revealed in China

Photographs have recently appeared on Chinese Internet sites showing a Xian Y-7 transport aircraft that has been heavily modified to serve as a testbed for a carrier-borne airborne early warning and control (AEW) aircraft. These recent photos follow one that appeared in May 2011, which provided the first grainy visual evidence of development of a “Chinese Hawkeye” by Xian.

China has already developed two types of AEW aircraft for land-based use, the KJ-2000 based on the Il-76 and the KJ-200 based on the Shaanxi Y-8. The Kamov Ka-31 helicopter was acquired for shipboard use, while the Changhe Z-8 (Super Frelon) was also modified to Z-8Y standard with a retractable AEW radar antenna. Both helicopters are seen as interim solutions for the Navy’s first carrier, which has a ski-jump deck configuration that cannot support operations of large fixed-wing AEW aircraft. In early 2005, however, a model of such an aircraft was shown at the 603 Institute at Xian, the design resembling that of the Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye and Yakovlev Yak-44.

The latest photos to emerge show an AEW aircraft designated the JZY-01, on test with the China Flight Test Establishment at Xian-Yanliang. It is based on a Y-7 forward fuselage, but is fitted with new wings with greater span and mounting 5,100-shp Zhuzhou WJ-6C turboprops (driving six-blade JL-4 propellers) from the Shaanxi Y-9 transport aircraft program rather than the lower-powered WJ-5Es normally used by the Y-7. The JZY-01 mounts a rotodome on its back and features a new rear fuselage with four-fin tail surfaces. A rudder is fitted to each of the four fins, unlike on the Hawkeye, which has only three fins so equipped. It does not appear from the photos that the JZY-01’s wings can fold, and the aircraft does not seem to have mission equipment or arrester gear fitted.

Meanwhile, China’s first carrier, the former Varyag (‘16’, possibly named Liaoning), has just undertaken its ninth sea trial, and there are reports that a Shenyang J-15 fighter has undertaken some deck approaches, although there are as yet no reports of any landings or launches. Photos purporting to show a J-15 on the carrier’s deck are almost certainly of a mock-up used for deck handling trials. Two more carriers of indigenous design are believed to be under construction.

India to launch AWACS project to counter China, Pak

With Pakistan stealing a swift march in the "eyes in the sky" arena and China already way ahead, India is now going to launch its own full-blown futuristic AWACS (airborne warning and control system) programme.

"Clearances are underway" to initially develop two AWACS aircraft, with four more to follow at a later stage, under the new `AWACS-India' project to be executed by DRDO and its Bangalore-based Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS).

"Under it, 360-degree AESA (active electronically scanned array) radars will be mounted on large aircraft like IL-76, Boeing or Airbus," said a DRDO source.

Potent force-multipliers like AWACS or AEW&C (airborne early warning and control) systems have changed the entire nature of air warfare because they can detect incoming aerial threats, ranging from fighters to cruise missiles, much before ground-based radars.

They also serve to direct air defence fighters during combat operations with enemy jets and also help in tracking troop build-ups.

Pakistan already has four Swedish Saab-2000 AEW&C aircraft, with four more Chinese ZDK-03 AWACS in the pipeline. China has around 20 AWACS, a mix of new and old systems, say sources.

But IAF has only three Phalcon AWACS mounted on IL-76 aircraft, under the $1.1 billion tripartite agreement among India, Israel and Russia finalized in 2004, despite being confronted with two potentially hostile fronts.

The case for two additional "follow-on" Phalcon AWACS, with a range of over 400-km and 360-degree coverage like the first three, has run into some rough weather due to sharp cost escalation.

Moreover, DRDO's ongoing mini-AWACS project, under which indigenous AEW&C systems are to be mounted on three Embraer-145 jets obtained from Brazil for $210-million, has also slipped after being approved in October, 2004, at a cost of Rs 1,800 crore.

DRDO, however, contends the project is now on track. "CABS will get the first Embraer, modified with antenna units and other structures mounted on its fuselage, in July," said an official.

"All electronic systems, with a normal radar range of 250-km and a 240-degree coverage, will then be integrated. The first flight should take place in early-2013. The project completion date is April 2014," said an official.

IAF is awaiting the completion of the mini-AWACS project as well as the launch of the larger 'AWACS-India' programme with crossed fingers. AWACS also constitute a crucial constituent of its IACCS (integrated air command and control system) programme, the fully-automated network being set up to integrate the wide array of military radars with each other as well as with civilian radars to plug surveillance gaps in Indian airspace.

ESC working to provide upgrades for U.S. and NATO AWACS aircraft

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- The Electronic Systems Center recently negotiated an undefinitized contract action, or UCA, with the Boeing Company on a cooperative program between NATO and the United States to upgrade the flight deck avionics on the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft.

The action moves the Diminishing Manufacturing Sources Replacement of Avionics for Global Operations and Navigation, or DRAGON, program into its engineering, manufacturing, and development phase, which replaces most of the DMS flight deck avionics and provides modernization of flight deck displays and controls. The major shift is from analog to digital avionics, allowing for future growth.

"Updating to digital avionics will enable unrestricted access to global airspace," said Sidney Kimhan, program manager. "It also will provide improved situational awareness for the operators."

The new equipment includes an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System, a new weather radar with predictive wind shear and an Engine Instrument and Crew Alert System for improved safety-of-flight. Two new critical operational capabilities include a Mode-5 Identification Friend or Foe transponder and air traffic control datalinks.

In addition, the improvements allow for a reduction in crew.

"The former four-man crew required now can be reduced to three, as the navigator responsibilities can be distributed between the pilot, the co-pilot and the flight engineer," said Kimhan.

He added that the new technology being implemented is commercial-off-the shelf, that is used by commercial airlines today.

"Because there is no unique development associated, we are looking at significant life cycle cost savings."

A unique aspect to the program is that it is a cooperative program between NATO and the United States. In summer 2010, the two executed an international agreement to share development costs in order to get these needed capabilities.

However, ensuring that everyone could get what they needed when they needed it turned out to be a challenge.

"In accordance with a multilateral memorandum of understanding with NAPMO [NAEW&C Programme Management Organisation], an organization under the NATO board of directors,  a hard stop date of December 2018 was established to complete EMD," said Jill Sentementes, contracting officer. "The only way to meet the December 2018 date was by issuing a UCA."

The UCA was issued at a not-to-exceed amount of $393 million. Although UCAs are often not recommended as a course of action, in this case, if NATO withdrew from the agreement, it would have increased the cost for the U.S.

"Looking at the options, we wanted to ensure we didn't lose the program or our cooperative partner," Sentementes said.

Although all Department of Defense UCAs are required to be definitized within 180 days, many times this cannot be accomplished. The DRAGON program UCA was definitized in 169 days.

"This was the largest [UCA] in ESC at the time and one of the largest in the Air Force," said Sentementes. "Definitization within 180 days is great. To do it in 169, with this dollar amount and the unique aspects is unbelievable. It was a great accomplishment for the team."

Another challenge the team faced was that negotiations were interrupted by a Congressional directive that industry include pension costs, requiring Boeing to submit rates and factors updates.

"The rate update caused delays to our negotiation schedule, but DCMA [Defense Contracting Management Agency] of Seattle worked tirelessly to quickly provide us with a forward pricing rate recommendation, which enabled us to resume and conclude negotiations timely," said Sentementes.

The plan from here is for a preliminary design review in September, followed by a critical design review, then a test flight program with production scheduled to start in 2016.

The upgrades will be made to 31 U.S. aircraft and 17 NATO aircraft.

"This has been quite the journey," said Sentementes. "It's been a great experience

NATO tightens patrolling of airspace during EURO 2012

NАТО, at the request of Poland, will tighten the patrolling of airspace during EURO 2012 with the help of the Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS), NATO's press service has told an UKRINFORM correspondent.

"NATO's 'Eye in the Sky,' the AWACS (Airborne Warning & Control System), will be playing an important role in the security of the European teams' competition over the next three weeks. Poland, as co-host of the competition along with Ukraine, is the latest NATO member to make such a request," reads the statement.

NATO also recalled that other high-visibility events to which the AWACS have been called in include the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Greece, the 2004 European Football Championship in Portugal, and the 2006 World Cup Football Championship in Germany, as well as important meetings held by other international organizations.

As reported, NATO and Ukraine agreed to introduce a special regime of air situation data exchange at the time of EURO 2012.

Boeing awarded radar contract for RSAF AWACS

Boeing is being awarded a $66,814,404 military sales contract for the installation of Group A and B radar system improvement kits for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) fleet of five Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.

Fifty per cent of the work is to be carried out in Riyadh and completion of the installation and checks is set for 15 June 2015.

This will bring the Saudi AWACS configuration in line with other AWACS fleets for radar enhancements.

The Peace Sentinel program for Saudi Arabia began in 1981. It included five AWACS aircraft and six E-3 derivative (KE-3) inflight refuelling tanker aircraft, along with spare parts, trainers and support equipment.

The first Saudi E-3 was delivered in June 1986, with deliveries of the remaining E-3s and tankers completed by September 1987. In addition to building the aircraft, Boeing assists in operating and maintaining the AWACS and tankers in Saudi Arabia. Boeing has issued subcontracts to three Saudi companies to assist in this support work.