Boeing 737 AEW&C
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| Boeing 737 AEW&C | |
|---|---|
 A Turkish Boeing 737 AEW&C |
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| Type | Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) |
| Manufacturer | Boeing IDS |
| Maiden flight | 2004 |
| Introduced | Early 2009 [1] |
| Status | Under development |
| Primary users | Royal Australian Air Force Turkish Air Force Republic of Korea Air Force |
| Unit cost | US$490 million[citation needed] |
| 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 for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Project Wedgetail. The 737 AEW&C has also been selected by the Turkish Air Force (under Project Peace Eagle, Turkish: Barış Kartalı) and the Republic of Korea Air Force, and has been proposed to Italy and the UAE.
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[edit] Design and development
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.
Northrop Grumman's Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar used on the 737 AEW&C platform also formed the basis for the same company's Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) which was developed for the U.S. Air Force's E-10 AWACS aircraft.
[edit] Operational history
[edit] Australia
In 1997, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems was awarded a contract to supply four AEW&C aircraft (whose design is based on the Boeing Business Jet 1), 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 and will be based at RAAF Base Williamtown with a permanent detachment at RAAF Base Tindal.
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 EWSP 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 June 29, 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]
Boeing has announced an 18 month delay, due to problems integrating radar and sensor computer systems, and will not deliver the aircraft until early 2009. Additionally, Boeing has taken $770 million in charges in 2006 for the delayed aircraft.[3]
[edit] Turkey
A total of four Boeing 737 AEW&C Peace Eagle aircraft (along with ground support systems) were ordered by the Turkish Air Force, with an option for two more. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is the primary subcontractor for the Peace Eagle parts production, aircraft modification, assembly and tests. Another subcontractor, Havelsan, is responsible for system analysis and software support.[4]
Peace Eagle 1 is modified and tested by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems in Seattle, WA, USA. Peace Eagle 2, 3 and 4 are modified and tested at the facilities of TAI in Ankara, Turkey, with the participation of Boeing and a number of Turkish companies. As of 2006, the four Peace Eagle airplanes were scheduled to be delivered in 2008.[5] As of mid-2007, systems integration was ongoing and airworthiness certification works continued. In September 2007, Boeing completed the first test flight of Turkey's AEW&C 737.[6]
On June 4, 2008, it was announced that the Turkish Aerospace Industries had completed modifications to Peace Eagle 2, the second 737 AEW&C aircraft at TAI's facilities in Turkey. Completion of checks on flight and mission systems is expected in the third quarter of 2008.[7]
[edit] South Korea
On November 7, 2006, Boeing won a contract with South Korea to deliver four aircraft by 2012.[8] Boeing beat out the other entrant, IAI Elta's Gulfstream G550-based aircraft, which was eliminated from the competition on August 3, 2006.[9]
[edit] Potential customers
Italy has been strongly tipped for a purchase of a total of 14 Wedgetail and P-8 MMA aircraft, with fleet support provided by Alitalia.[10] The Boeing 737 is favored the competitor for the UAE AEW&C program.[11]
[edit] Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: Flight:2 Mission:8-10
- Payload: 43,720 lb (19,830 kg)
- Length: 110 ft 4 in (33.6 m)
- Wingspan: 117 ft 2 in (35.8 m)
- Height: 41 ft 2 in (12.5 m)
- Wing area: 980 ft² (91 m²)
- Airfoil: B737D
- Empty weight: 102,750 lb (46,606 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 171,000 lb (77,564 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× CFM International CFM56-7B27A turbofans, 27,000 lbf (118 kN) each
Performance
- Cruise speed: 530 mph (853 km/h)
- Range: 3,800 nmi (7,040 km)
- Service ceiling 41,000 ft (12,500 m)
Avionics Northrop Grumman Multi-role Active Electronically Scanned Array radar
[edit] References
- ^ "Boeing announces further delay to Australia's Wedgetail aircraft" "Jane's Information Group" November 28, 2006
- ^ Brendan Nelson "Wedgetail Project" Press Release.
- ^ "Radar down under Australia grapples with the Wedgetail AEW&C program". C4ISR Journal, May 4, 2007
- ^ Peace Eagle (PE) - Turkish Airborne Early Warning & Control System, Havelsan.
- ^ "Boeing Installs MESA Antenna on First Peace Eagle Aircraft", Boeing, March 2, 2006.
- ^ "Boeing Successfully Completes First Test Flight of AEW&C Peace Eagle Aircraft", Boeing, September 6, 2007.
- ^ "Boeing Supplier Turkish Aerospace Industries Completes 1st In-Country Modification of Peace Eagle AEW&C Aircraft", Boeing, June 4, 2008
- ^ "South Korea picks Boeing for surveillance planes." Reuters. November 7, 2006.
- ^ "S.Korea drops IAI, keeps Boeing in $2 bln plane deal." Reuters. August 3, 2006.
- ^ Aviation Week & Space Technology. June 21, 2004.
- ^ "Northrop Grumman E-2D Back in Competition for UAEAF AEW Platform". February 22, 2007.
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
[edit] External links
- Boeing 737 AEW&C, and 737 AEW&C Wedgetail pages on Boeing.com
- 737 AEW&C Wedgetail page on airforce-technology.com
- Boeing 737 AEW&C Wedgetail on Flug Revue site
- Library page on Airborne Early Warning Association site
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