NATO to make AWACS fleet GATM-compliant

摘要

NATO has awarded Boeing a USD250 million contract to upgrade the flight deck systems on a number of its E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, the company announced in early August. The contract covers 13 of the alliance's 17 AWACS platforms and involves global air traffic management (GATM) technology insertions to enable the aircraft to operate in commercial airspace across the globe. The upgrade will also reduce the flight crew from three to two. According to Boeing, the modifications will begin in 2016 and be completed by 2018. Boeing has already installed a new digital flight deck and avionics on one NATO AWACS aircraft under an earlier engineering, manufacturing, and development (EMD) contract. The aircraft is due to begin flight trials in the fourth quarter of this year and is scheduled for delivery in late 2015.