Turkey receives final Peace Eagle AEW&C platform

Turkey received the last of four Boeing 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft at the type's main operating station of Konya Air Base on 9 December.
The handover of the aircraft, dubbed Peace Eagle in Turkish service, concludes a delivery process which began last year. The three aircraft previously handed over will now be upgraded with new software to bring them up to a common configuration with this latest addition to the fleet.
While Boeing has not commented on the nature of these upgrades, the company has previously stated it was looking to give the platform the ability to detect and track incoming ballistic missiles. Other improvements proposed that build on the Block 40/45 upgrade for the 707-derived E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) platform include equipping the aircraft for the airborne command-and-control mission, as well as for the onboard control of unmanned aerial vehicles. The fitting of an infrared search-and-track sensor has also previously been touted by Boeing.
Turkey signed up for the 737 AEW&C programme in May 2003. Under the deal, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Turkish Airlines, Havelsan, and Aselsan received workshare as part of an offset deal with local industry.
The first fully integrated 737 AEW& C was due to be handed over to Turkey in 2009. That date was not met with Boeing having informed Turkey in November 2006 of a 26-month programme slippage arising from delays caused by software and equipment integration problems. Further delays ensued that it was not until 21 February 2014 that the first example was delivered, with a second following at the beginning of May and a third on 4 September 2014. With the final example now handed over, all four aircraft are assigned to 131 Squadron at Konya.
janes

RAAF E-7A Wedgetail Achieves Final Operational Capability

The Royal Australian Air Force’s E-7A Wedgetail aircraft has achieved Final Operational Capability.
The RAAF fleet of six Wedgetail aircraft reached the milestone this month with the entire capability, from physical aircraft to logistics, management, sustainment, facilities and training, now fully operational and able to support ongoing operations.
The aircraft deployed on Operation Okra in the Middle East region, completing over 100 surveillance sorties with our coalition partners, flying more than 1,200 hours.
The home operating base for the Wedgetail aircraft is RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales.
defense-studies

Two RAAF Superhornets have completed first armed mission over Iraq

Two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft have completed their first armed combat mission over Iraq, assisting coalition operations against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in an Air Interdiction and Close Air Support mission over northern Iraq.
The Super Hornets were on-call to attack targets as identified.
On this occasion the aircraft did not use their munitions and have returned to base to disarm and prepare for future sorties.
The Australian Air Task Group’s KC-30A multi-role tanker transport supported the Super Hornets while the E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft also flew over Iraq.
The flights were completed without incident and all aircraft have returned safely to Australia’s main support base in the Middle East.
defence.gov.au

AUSTRALIA RAAF Air Task Group arrives in Middle East

The Australian Defence Force Air Task Group  has arrived at Australia’s main support base in the Middle East.
The Air Task Group includes approximately 400 Royal Australian Air Force personnel as well as F/A-18F Super Hornets, a KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, and an E7-A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft.
This deployment is in addition to the RAAF C-130J Hercules and C-17A Globemaster aircraft that are already providing humanitarian and logistic support to Iraq.
The Air Task Group will now prepare to respond to future Government decisions regarding a possible contribution to international operations to combat ISIL.
Australia’s contribution to international efforts is being closely coordinated with the Iraqi government, Gulf nations, and a broad coalition of international partners.
airforce.gov.au

Australia dispatches 7 Super Hornet, 1 KC-30A and 1 B-737 AEW To Middle East to Counter ISIS

The main contingent of Royal Australian Air Force personnel and aircraft has departed for the Middle East from RAAF Bases Amberley and Williamtown.
The aircraft included F/A-18F Super Hornets, a KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport and an E-7A Wedgetail AEW.
Following the Government’s decision to prepare to contribute to international led efforts to disrupt and degrade ISIL, the Australian Defence Force is deploying approximately 600 ADF personnel to the Middle East where they will prepare to respond to future Government decisions regarding Iraq.
defence.gov.au

Australia will send F-18, B-737 Wedgetail and a KC-30 military force to fight ISIS in Iraq

The Australian Prime Minister Abbott said in a statement on Sunday that Australia was responding to a request from the United States for specific contributions to an international coalition against Islamic State (Isis).
Australia is preparing up to eight F/A18 aircraft, an E-7A Wedgetail Early Warning and Control aircraft, and a KC-30A Tanker and Transport aircraft to be deployed to the United Arab Emirates to contribute to the campaign.
Combat troops would not be deployed, but 600 specialist operations personnel who could assist Iraq’s security forces were being prepared to go, 400 from the air force and around 200 from the military.
independent

Turkey receives penultimate AEW&C 737

The Turkish air force has received its penultimate 737-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system aircraft from Boeing, following its conversion by in-country partner Turkish Aerospace Industries.
flightglobal

Boeing Delivers 2nd Peace Eagle Aircraft to Turkey

Boeing this week delivered, on schedule, the second Peace Eagle Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to the Turkish Armed Forces.
The AEW&C aircraft arrived at Konya Air Base, the fleet's main operating base.
The first Peace Eagle AEW&C aircraft was delivered Jan. 31, and a third will be delivered later this year. Boeing is scheduled to deliver the fourth aircraft for the program in 2015.
boeing

Qatar to buy Apache, NH-90 Helicopters, B-737 AEW&C, and Patriot PAC-3 missiles in a multibillion deal

Qatar announced contracts worth about $23 billion on Thursday to buy attack helicopters, guided missiles, tankers and other weapons from Boeing Co, Airbus and other arms makers.
The weapons purchases include large deals with Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and others.
Qatar, and other Gulf Arab and Middle Eastern countries are looking to acquire new high-tech military equipment to protect themselves from neighboring Iran and internal threats after the Arab Spring uprising.
Boeing confirmed that the announcement included a contract to buy 24 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and three Boeing 737 Airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.
France's Defense Ministry said Qatar had agreed to buy 22 NH90 military helicopters and two Airbus A330 MRTT refueling tankers.
Qatar's air force has no in-flight refueling capability today, but it has been steadily building up its transport capacity.
Lockheed has delivered four C-130J-30s and Boeing has delivered four C-17s to Doha in the last four years, joining a fleet of Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft serving as VIP transports.
The tanker selection also comes amidst an extended selection process for Qatar to buy up to 72 fighters to replace an ageing fleet of 12 Dassault Mirage 2000-5s.
The bidding process has drawn interest from western fighter makers , with the Boeing F-15E and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon and the Lockheed Martin F-16 all in contention.
Qatar also committed to buy a Patriot missile defense system built by Raytheon equipped with PAC-3 missiles.
The Pentagon approved the sale to Qatar of of Patriot fire units, radars, and various Raytheon and Lockheed missiles in November 2012.
The DSCA, the U.S. body which oversees foreign arms sales, had notified lawmakers in July 2012 of a possible sale of Apache helicopters to Qatar.
reuters
flightglobal

Turkey Demands $183M in Penalties From Boeing for AEW&C Program Delays

The Turkish government has demanded $183 million worth of penalties from Boeing due to major delays in the delivery of spy planes.
The Turkish Defense Ministry demanded an increase in the start-up support period from an initial two years to five years as well as three years of software maintenance service in addition to $32 million worth of spare parts in return for writing off the $183 million penalty and accumulated interest due to delays in the AEW&C program.
Boeing officials were not immediately available for comment.
Boeing delivered the first aircraft to Turkey in late January although original deliveries had been planned for 2008.
Boeing has said that it will complete deliveries in 2015. The company said two more AEW&C aircraft are to be delivered this year, with the fourth in 2015.
The AEW&C is based on the Boeing 737-700. Australia and South Korea also operate the AEW&C platforms.
defensenews

Boeing delivers first B-737 AEW&C to Turkey

Boeing has silently delivered the first airborne early-warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft to Turkey under a program that was launched more than a decade ago.
The defense procurement agency, the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), and the Turkish Air Force simultaneously announced Jan. 31 that the AEW&C aircraft had arrived in Turkey for acceptance tests. The tests are to be followed by an inauguration ceremony Feb. 21 at the 3rd Main Jet Base Command in Konya.
Last year, Turkey Defense Minister said Turkey would impose sanctions on Boeing for the delays.
Under a 2003, contract Boeing was to develop and deliver four AEW&C aircraft to the Turkish Air Force by 2008.
Recent reports said Turkey demanded Boeing pay $600 million in penalties, but defense officials denied that.
There are disagreements over whether the delays stemmed entirely from the company’s shortcomings or whether they were due to extra features that Ankara demanded be installed on the aircraft.
Turkey officials said that Boeing only had to pay for the delays considered to be the company’s fault.
hurriyetdailynews

Japan could replace E-2C with 737 AEW&C

In response to China’s declaration of an air defense identification zone over the East China Sea that includes the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, the Japanese and U.S. governments have confirmed that the Self-Defense Forces and U.S. forces will cooperate to strengthen warning and surveillance activities over the sea.
To block China’s move to change the status quo by force, which Japan and the United States consider to be an unacceptable unilateral action, the SDF plans to set up a new permanent unit of the Air-Self Defense Force’s early-warning E-2C aircraft at Naha Base in the prefecture, and expand deployment of the Global Hawk high-altitude unmanned reconnaissance drone.
The SDF will launch “the second airborne warning and surveillance unit” at Naha Base in fiscal 2014, and will use some of the E-2C aircraft deployed at the ASDF’s Misawa Base.
With these plans in mind, the Defense Ministry plans to include its policy to introduce a successor aircraft to the E-2C in fiscal 2015.
The successor aircraft to the E-2C could be a Boeing E-737 AEW&C.
E-2C aircraft cannot be refueled in the air and can conduct warning and surveillance activities around the Senkaku Islands for only about four hours. The introduction of E-737s would make it possible for the SDF to conduct longer missions.
U.S. forces currently deploy the Global Hawk in Guam, which also conducts warning and surveillance activities around Japan. U.S.
The ASDF also intends to adopt the Global Hawk in fiscal 2015.
japan-news

Turkey nears acceptance of delayed 737 AEW fleet

Turkey will receive its first Peace Eagle Boeing 737 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system aircraft before the end of 2013.
flightglobal

Turkey Sanctions Boeing For Delays

Turkey has imposed undisclosed penalties on Boeing for major delays in the US company’s spy plane program.

defenseworld

Boeing pays penalty for Turkish AWACs

Turkey's Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz has admitted that major delays in Turkey’s multibillion-dollar program for the purchase of four airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft from Boeing were due to the company’s failure in developing the system and “various force majeure” involved in the program.

hurriyetdailynews

Israel delivers airborne reconnaissance systems to Turkey

The Israeli regime has delivered airborne electronic systems to Turkey, which will integrate the systems into its Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) military aircraft.
The reconnaissance systems have now arrived at a Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) facility in Ankara, and their integration into military aircraft purchased from the United States will be completed in the next few weeks, the Turkish newspaper Today’s Zaman reported on Sunday.


presstv

Israel backpedals on plans not to deliver Turkey AWACS equipment

Israel, whose relations with Turkey have been strained since its troops staged a deadly attack on a Turkish passenger ship in which nine civilians were killed as part of a flotilla bringing supplies to Gaza in May 2010, has changed its mind about not delivering hardware to be installed on Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) military aircraft to Turkey.

Turkey bought four AWACS-compatible aircraft from the US in the early 2000s. A contract to install the electronic equipment to integrate the warning system with military planes was won by Israel, which earlier delivered two of the planned systems. However, it announced in 2011, following tension that began with the passenger ship attack, that it would not be delivering the remaining two systems.

But sources say Israel has changed its mind.

militaryaerospace

Wedgetail No Longer A Project Of Concern For Australia

Australia has removed the Wedgetail Boeing 737-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) program from its Projects of Concern list following delivery of all six aircraft and achievement in November of initial operational capability (IOC).

Graham Warwick-aviationweek.com

Boeing's Final Design for Wedgetail AEW&C Airborne Mission Segment Accepted by Australia

The Commonwealth of Australia has completed its acquisition of six Boeing 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft and related mission systems by accepting the final design of the Wedgetail airborne mission segment.

nosint
boeing

RAAF Wedgetail achieves operational capability standard

The Royal Australian Air Force declares that it’s 737 Wedgetail AEW&C has achieved Initial Operational Capability.

alert5
defence.gov.au