Spreading the Net

摘要

For more than five years the Royal Air Force (RAF) has been enhancing the capabilities of its seven Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW.ls to improve the performance of their sensors and transform the airborne radar aircraft into the hub of the UK's network-enabled capabilities (NEC). The most recent element was the launch of Project Listener in August last year to boost the network capabilities of the Sentry and other RAF airborne battle management aircraft. This followed the start of a competition in 2004 to provide a new mission system for the E-3D under Project Eagle which could potentially cost up to £400 million. By addressing the hardware and software modernisation at the same time, the UK hopes to keep in step with the US and other potential 'network' allies.