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Updated February 16, 2022
Replacing the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System
(AWACS)
The U.S. Air Force recently expressed its interest to replace
the Block 40/45 program, the Air Force upgraded the
the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)
systems again, to include improvements to electronic
fleet. Over the summer and fall of 2021, several senior Air
support measures and datalink/spectrum management, new
Force officials, including Air Force Secretary Frank
battle management computer systems, and enhanced
Kendall and Commander of Pacific Air Forces General
satellite-based internet chat capabilities. These upgrades are
Kenneth Wilsbach, discussed plans to replace the E-3
anticipated to reach full operational capability in May 2024.
AWACS. The officials stated that the Air Force needs to
replace its fleet of E-3 AWACS aircraft due to their age,
Previous Replacement Initiatives
low mission capable rates, and the inability to procure parts
In 2003, the Department of Defense awarded Northrop
to maintain 40-year-old aircraft. The Air Force released a
Grumman a contract to develop the E-10 Multi-sensor
request for information on February 8, 2022, seeking to
Command and Control Aircraft (MC2A). The intent of this
replace the AWACS beginning in FY2023.
program, as originally stated by the Air Force, was to
combine the E-3 AWACS with the E-8 Joint Surveillance
What Is the E-3 AWACS?
Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS), equipped with
Since the 1970s, the United States has operated E-3
ground movement tracking indicator (GMTI) capabilities,
AWACS aircraft, with air movement tracking indicator
and the RC-135 Rivet Joint, a signals intelligence aircraft.
(AMTI) technologies that give commanders the ability to
Due to technical challenges, however, the Air Force
see vast areas of airspace, including both friendly and
decided to remove the GMTI requirement from the program
hostile aircraft, and manage the battle in that space. The E-3
in 2006. The E-10 program was completely cancelled in
is a modified Boeing 707 aircraft with a 30-foot radar dome
2010.
held above the aircraft’s fuselage (Figure 1). AWACS have
been sold to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
In 2017, the Air Force again proposed replacing the E-3
(NATO), France, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia.
AWACS with a new program called the Advanced Battle
Management System (ABMS). Following release of the
Figure 1. E-3 AWACS
2018 National Defense Strategy, the Air Force reevaluated
its requirements for ABMS. According to a 2020
Government Accountability Office report, the Air Force
“concluded that no single platform, such as an aircraft,
would be the right solution to providing command and
control capabilities across multiple domains.” Air Force
officials testified in April 2019 regarding a new vision for
ABMS, which aims to provide a family of command and
control systems in air, space, and cyberspace.
The U.S. Space Force has disclosed that it intends to
develop a low earth orbit satellite constellation to provide
GMTI and AMTI capabilities in the future. The Air Force
has also stated it intends to eventually transition airborne
battle management aircraft to a space-based capability. It
remains unclear when this space-based radar constellation
Source: U.S. Department of Defense, at https://media.defense.gov/
would be operational.
2021/Sep/29/2002864360/-1/-1/0/200204-F-XO631-9049.JPG.
Potential Replacement Options
Over the years, the E-3 AWACS fleet has received a
Several airborne solutions might be able to replace the E-3
number of upgrades to its radars and AMTI module in order
AWACS in the short term to mitigate potential capability
to improve its command and control capabilities. From
shortfalls. An option specifically identified by senior Air
1987 through 2001, the Air Force upgraded these systems
Force officials is the E-7, also known as Wedgetail. The E-
through the Block 30/35 program, which included increased
7, developed by the Royal Australian Air Force and
computer processing power, improved datalinks to
produced by Boeing in Renton and Tukwila, WA, is based
communicate with more aircraft, defensive electronic
on a 737 airliner airframe (Figure 2). Australia contracted
countermeasures, and integration of Global Positioning
with Boeing to develop six Wedgetail aircraft in 2002, with
System (GPS) navigation devices. Starting in 2003, through
initial delivery completed in 2009 and full operational
capability achieved in 2015. The United Kingdom
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Replacing the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)
subsequently contracted Boeing to produce five Wedgetails
and has an airframe similar to that used by the United States
in 2019, with delivery of the final aircraft expected in 2023.
in the EC-37 Compass Call. Using the same airframe could
Turkey and South Korea also operate the aircraft. The
potentially provide efficiencies by streamlining training and
Wedgetail utilizes a multirole electronically scanned area
maintenance, and improve parts availability. IAI has
radar that provides 360 degrees of surveillance coverage,
indicated that the ELW-2085 can operate at 41,000 feet,
with a reported radar range in excess of 174 nautical miles
with approximately nine hours of endurance. The aircraft
(200 miles, or 322 kilometers). Boeing currently projects E-
was developed in 2003 and was first used operationally in
7 Wedgetail operating costs to be 66% lower with higher
2007. Israel, Singapore, and Italy currently operate the
mission capable rates (i.e., more aircraft available for use)
ELW-2085.
when compared to E-3 AWACS.
Figure 4. ELW-2085
Figure 2. E-7 Wedgetail
Source: https://customer.janes.com/Janes/Display/JAEM1041-JC4IA.
Source: Breaking Defense, at https://breakingdefense.com/2021/09/
brown-air-force-serious-about-e-7-wedgetail/.
Potential Questions for Congress
What are the tradeoffs of pursuing a space-based
In November 2021, Saab CEO Micael Johansson proposed
command and control architecture compared with a
the Saab GlobalEye (Figure 3), made in Canada and
traditional air-based system? When does the Space
Sweden, as an AWACS replacement. The GlobalEye is
Force anticipate having a space-based GMTI and AMTI
designed around a Bombardier 6000/6500 aircraft. Saab has
capability ready to replace aircraft?
stated that GlobalEye utilizes an active electronically
scanned array (AESA) radar with a reported range of 300
Assuming a capability shortfall until space-based GMTI
miles, endurance of 11 hours, and a service ceiling of
and AMTI are achieved, what are the tradeoffs should
60,000 feet. The United Arab Emirates is currently the only
the Air Force choose to procure a mature aircraft like
user of GlobalEye, first delivered in 2020, and planned full
the E-7 Wedgetail, versus procuring an aircraft with
operational capability in 2025. South Korea, Finland, and
potentially more capability but requiring time and
Sweden have expressed interest in the aircraft.
funding for additional research and development?
Figure 3. Saab GlobalEye
How effective would these short-term solutions be in the
presence of advanced air defense and adversary fighter
aircraft? Do improved sensor capabilities and ranges
address increased risks posed by adversaries?
Each of the potential options for AWACS replacement
listed above is a crewed aircraft. Could uncrewed
systems perform similar command and control
missions? How much additional development would an
uncrewed solution require, and would it offer
operational advantages?
With ABMS linking sensors together across the service,
the Air Force considers every aircraft to be a sensor
platform. Does a potential E-3 replacement bring
Source: Saab, at https://www.saab.com/products/globaleye.
enough unique capability to warrant deploying a
dedicated fleet of aircraft?
While Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has not publicly
discussed selling its ELW-2085 to the United States, it
John R. Hoehn, Analyst in Military Capabilities and
remains a potential option (Figure 4). This aircraft, based
Programs
on a G550 airframe from Gulfstream in Savannah, GA, also
Jeremiah Gertler, Specialist in Military Aviation
features an AESA radar providing 360-degree coverage,
IF12045
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Replacing the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12045 · VERSION 2 · UPDATED