Boeing 737 AEW&C

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Boeing 737 AEW&C

Australia's first Wedgetail over Sydney Harbour
Type	Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C)
Manufacturer	Boeing IDS
Maiden flight	2004
Introduced	Late 2008 ^[1]
Primary user	Royal Australian Air Force
Developed from	Boeing 737
Variants	C-40 Clipper P-8 Poseidon

The Boeing 737 AEW&C is an Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft. It was designed in response to Australia's RFP for an aircraft (and supporting segments) for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Project Wedgetail. The Boeing 737 AEW&C has also been selected by the Turkish Air Force (under Project Peace Eagle) and South Korea, and has been proposed to Italy.

1 Summary
2 Operators
3 Specifications
4 References
5 Related content

[edit] Summary

The official name of the 737 AEW&C is: 737-700 Airborne Early Warning & Control, Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array RADAR Antenna (737-700 AEW&C MESA RADAR Antenna). The aircraft uses the Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar. The radar is located on a dorsal fin on top of the fuselage, dubbed the "top hat", and is designed for minimal aerodynamic effect. The radar is capable of simultaneous air and sea search, fighter control and area search. Other modifications include ventral fins to counterbalance the radar and countermeasures mounted on the nose, wingtips and tail. The cabin features eight operator consoles with sufficient space for four more; the Australian fleet will operate ten consoles with space for two more.

The 737 AEW&C platform is also being used to develop technologies for the U.S. Air Force's E-10 AWACS aircraft.

[edit] Operators

[edit] Australia

The flightdeck of the first Australian aircraft

In 1997, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems was awarded a contract to supply four AEW&C aircraft (whose design is based on the 737-700IGW), with Australia having the option to increase the order by three additional aircraft. Australia has since taken up two of those options. Aircraft deliveries were to begin in 2006, but significant program delays due to integration problems have occurred. The first two Wedgetail aircraft were assembled and will undergo testing in Seattle, Washington, with the final four aircraft to be assembled by Boeing Australia. All the Australian aircraft will be operated by No. 2 Squadron RAAF based at RAAF Base Williamtown.

For the Australian aircraft, Boeing and Northrop are teamed with Boeing Australia, Ltd., BAE Systems Australia and Qantas Defence Services. Boeing Australia will provide training, maintenance and support, BAE provides electronic warfare (EW) systems, Electronic Support Measures (ESM) systems and ground support systems, while Qantas provides maintenance support for the aircraft. Qantas also provides maintenance for the two BBJ VIP aircraft of the RAAF.

On 29 June 2006 the Australian Minister for Defence, Brendan Nelson, announced that Boeing had recently informed the Australian Government that the Wedgetail project has fallen behind schedule. According to Nelson's press release, the company had previously maintained that the project was actually on schedule. ^[2]

According to Reuters, Boeing has announced an 18 month delay, due to problems integrating radar and sensor computer systems, and will not deliver the aircraft until 2008. Additionally, Boeing has reported that it will take over $1.1Billion in charges for the costs of the delayed aircraft and the previously announced settlement of two U.S. government investigations into its defense unit. The schedule for delivery of four of the planes to Turkey, where the program is known as Peace Eagle, has yet to be worked out. ^[3]

[edit] Turkey

As of 2005, four airframes (along with ground support systems) were ordered by Turkey for the Peace Eagle project, with an option for two more. The first example was completed in 2005 and under went systems integration. One subcontractor on Peace Eagle is Havelsan.^[4]

[edit] South Korea

Announced November 7, 2006 Boeing won a contract with South Korea to deliver 4 aircraft by 2012.^[5] Boeing beat out the other entrant, IAI Elta's Gulfstream G550-based aircraft, which was eliminated from the competition on August 3, 2006.^[6]

[edit] Potential customers

Aviation Week & Space Technology stated in their June 21, 2004 edition that Italy has been strongly tipped for a purchase of a total of 14 Wedgetail and MMA aircraft, with fleet support provided by Alitalia.

[edit] Specifications

South Korean 737AEW&C proposal, based upon Australia's Project Wedgetail.

General characteristics

Crew: Flight:2 Mission:8-10
Payload: 43,720 lbs (19,831 kg)
Length: 110 ft 4 in (33.6 m)
Wingspan: 117 ft 2 in (34.3 m)
Height: 41 ft 2 in (12.5 m)
Wing area: 980 sq ft (91 sq m)
Airfoil: B737D
Empty weight: 102,750 lb (46,606 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 171,000 lb (77,564 kg)
Powerplant: 2× CFM International CFM56-7B24 turbofans, 27,000 lbf (118 kN) each