ESC awards contract to keep French AWACS fleet current

  • Published
  • By Patty Welsh
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The Electronic Systems Center achieved the next step toward upgrading France's fleet of Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft with the recent award of a $324 million contract to the Boeing Company.

"The modification that will be completed with this Foreign Military Sale contract advances the mission computing systems from their current capabilities, similar to the U.S. Block 30/35 system, to roughly the same capabilities as the U.S. Block 40/45 system," said Paul Sparaco, UK/French AWACS integrated product team chief.

The change to Block 40/45 takes the AWACS fleet from large legacy mainframe computer architecture to more modern Windows- and Unix-based mission computing. Improved situational awareness and combat identification capabilities are two of the benefits that will be seen with the upgrade.

In addition to military-specific missions, AWACS aircraft have been used to support humanitarian missions, to assist with search and rescue, to provide security assistance for public events, and to help prevent drug trafficking and piracy.

"This upgrade provides the tools for the AWACS aircraft to perform these functions in a better way," said Mr. Sparaco.

Some of the changes include: new displays, computers and consoles, improved Identification Friend or Foe, and a Multi-Source Integration process, which combines data from separate sources.

"This will be the largest modification in French AWACS history," said Robert Adamczyk, engineer for the MITRE Corp., who serves as the chief engineer for the UK/France AWACS program. "In fact, the modification is so large, a significant portion of the equipment currently on the aircraft will be removed and replaced by new wiring, consoles and computer racks."

The upgrades are scheduled to be installed in the E-3F aircraft by Air France Industries in Le Bourget, France, beginning in 2012, following the completion of design and integration activity at Boeing Seattle.

"France will be the first international customer to have the Block 40/45 capabilities," said Mr. Sparaco, "However, it was a long process to get here."

The French originally ordered the 707 platform in 1987, and the aircraft were delivered over the next few years. Starting in the late 1990s, the fleet received upgrades such as electronic support measures, a passive listening and detection system, and a radar system improvement program, which enhanced the capability to detect and track aircraft and missiles.

"Throughout this time, the French were trying to stay in sync with the U.S. AWACS fleet," said Mr. Sparaco. "And the goal for both France and the U.S. was to have the AWACS stay interoperable with NATO and coalition partners."

At the same time the French fleet was receiving these modifications, the U.S. fleet was in an aggressive systems design, development and engineering program - what would become Block 40/45.

In 2004, France decided to look at upgrading their platforms from Block 30/35. They contracted with ESC to perform a feasibility study to identify what would be the new French AWACS mid-life upgrade for mission computing and air battle management. The study was performed to compare the U.S. Block 40/45 system and the NATO mid-term system. It showed the U.S. system could best accommodate the French needs and support additional French-unique requirements.

"Each country has its own unique national requirements, such as specific data link messages," said Mr. Adamczyk. "After the study, the French concluded they wanted to pursue the U.S. Block 40/45 with integration of their requirements."

A risk reduction study was the next step in the process. Started in March 2006, this study has identified risks associated with transitioning to the new operations and is providing mitigation plans for the execution phase. Program officials expect to complete it in April.

With the contract being awarded, the program now moves into the full execution stage for the upgrade of the four E-3F AWACS.

"The French are extremely happy with the progress we've made on the program," said Mr. Sparaco. "We were able to preserve their budget needs through an aggressive effort to reach a contractual agreement by December 2009."

The next steps include a post-award conference, scheduled for April 5th with key stakeholders from the French, Boeing and ESC, and a baseline review in May. The contract runs through 2016.

"This opens the door for other nations to receive this capability," said Mr. Sparaco. "It will likely become the common international baseline for an AWACS Block 40/45 upgrade."