Happy’s Tech Talk #34: Producibility and Other Pseudo-metrics
It’s Only Common Sense: Results Come from Action, Not Intention
The New Chapter: Navigating Maternity Leave in the Electronics Industry
Boeing, U.S. Air Force Definitize Contract for Two Rapid Prototype E-7A Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Aircraft
August 13, 2024 | BoeingEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Boeing has been awarded a $2.56 billion contract from the U.S. Air Force for two rapid prototype E-7A AEW&C Wedgetail aircraft. The contract includes lifecycle development, training and support for the Air Force’s E-7A fleet.
The combat-proven E-7A Wedgetail provides targeted tracking and battle management command-and-control capabilities to joint forces for “first to detect, first to engage” advantage. The E-7 AEW&C platform is currently in service with the Royal Australian Air Force, Republic of Korea Air Force (designated E-737 Peace Eye) and Turkish Air Force (designated E-7T Peace Eagle).
“Global operators are proving that the E-7 AEW&C is a critical node for air superiority in the modern battlespace,” said Boeing Vice President and E-7 Program Manager Stu Voboril. “In our partnership with the U.S. Air Force, we’re focused on stable, predictable execution to deliver crucial mission-ready capabilities today. This will put us on the path for the long-term growth of the aircraft and mission.”
Built on the Boeing 737-700 NG airframe, the E-7 AEW&C aircraft offers lower operating and sustainment costs, higher mission readiness rates and unmatched interoperability among a growing global user community.
“Our customers have an urgent need for integrated battlespace awareness and battle management,” said Dan Gillian, vice president and general manager of Boeing Defense, Space & Security’s Mobility, Surveillance & Bombers division. “The E-7A is the airspace lynchpin to continuously scan the skies, command and control the battlespace, and integrate all-domain data providing a decisive advantage against threats. With our open systems architecture approach, capabilities can be rapidly inserted over time as threats evolve.”
In addition to the rapid prototype E-7A AEW&C aircraft being built for the U.S. Air Force, Boeing is currently producing three E-7As for the Royal Air Force, with military modifications underway in the United Kingdom. Additionally, NATO has selected the E-7A as its preferred AEW&C solution.
Together, the Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force and U.S. Air Force have a Wedgetail tri-lateral cooperation agreement relating to E-7 aircraft capability development, evaluation and testing, interoperability, sustainment, operations, training and safety.
Share on:
Suggested Items
X-59 Engine Roars, Lockheed Martin Starts Last Major Ground Test
11/12/2024 | Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin Skunk Works, in partnership with NASA Aeronautics, started X-59 engine run testing, marking the aircraft's final major system check-out before taxi tests and first flight. The tests also mark the first time the X-59 was powered fully internally.
Honeywell, Curtiss-Wright Develop Cockpit Voice Recorders to Help Boeing, Airbus Meet New 25-Hour Safety Mandate
11/12/2024 | Curtiss-Wright CorporationHoneywell and Curtiss-Wright Corporation announced they have collaborated to develop a Honeywell Connected Recorder-25 (HCR-25) cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) that is now available for applicable Boeing and Airbus commercial and cargo aircraft.
Sikorsky, Rain Successfully Demonstrate Autonomous Flight
11/12/2024 | Lockheed MartinSikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company and Rain, a leader in autonomous aerial wildfire containment technology, successfully demonstrated how an autonomous Black Hawk® helicopter can be commanded to take off, identify the location and size of a small fire, and then accurately drop water to suppress the flames.
RTX's Collins Aerospace to Provide UK Chinook Helicopters with Interoperable Avionics System
11/12/2024 | RTXCollins Aerospace, an RTX business, has received a $19 million contract from the Department of Defense to equip a fleet of new H-47 Chinooks for the UK Royal Air Force with its Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) avionics management suite.
U.S. Navy, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works Demonstrate First Live Control of an Uncrewed Air Vehicle by UMCS and MDCX
11/08/2024 | Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin collaborated with the U.S. Navy and General Atomics (GA) in a first-ever live control flight demonstration of an uncrewed system by the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control Station (UMCS).