Boeing E-7 AEW&C platform offered as successor to NATO AWACS 

In response to the NATO Support and Procurement Agency’s request for information (RFI) under the ongoing Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme, Boeing has provided data on its E-7 airborne early warning & control (AEW&C) platform, it emerged on 21 February 2023.

The aircraft is a military version of the Boeing 737-700ER airliner featuring Northrop Grumman’s distinctive Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar mounted dorsally above the cabin.

Saab has also responded to the RFI with data on its GlobalEye system. Launched in 2016, the AFSC programme seeks a replacement for NATO’s fleet of E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft when they are retired around 2035.

Boeing describes the E-7 AEW&C platform as a combat-proven weapon system that provides multi-area surveillance, communications and networked battle management capabilities, as well as interoperability that multiplies the effectiveness of joint and coalition forces.

The aircraft has been in service with Australia, which has six E-7s, since 2000, while South Korea and Turkey each operate four E-7s. The United Kingdom is to receive three aircraft from 2023.

The United Arab Emirates and US military have also expressed interest in the platform.

Gerhard Heiming