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Updated April 4, 2022
Replacing the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System
(AWACS)
The U.S. Air Force recently expressed its interest to replace
System (GPS) navigation devices. Starting in 2003, through
the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)
the Block 40/45 program, the Air Force upgraded the
fleet. Over the summer and fall of 2021, several senior Air
systems again, to include improvements to electronic
Force officials, including Air Force Secretary Frank
support measures and datalink/spectrum management, new
Kendall and Commander of Pacific Air Forces General
battle management computer systems, and enhanced
Kenneth Wilsbach, discussed plans to replace the E-3
satellite-based internet chat capabilities. These upgrades are
AWACS. The officials stated that the Air Force needs to
anticipated to reach full operational capability in May 2024.
replace its fleet of E-3 AWACS aircraft due to their age,
low mission capable rates, and the inability to procure parts
Previous Replacement Initiatives
to maintain 40-year-old aircraft. The Air Force released a
In 2003, the Department of Defense awarded Northrop
request for information on February 8, 2022, seeking to
Grumman a contract to develop the E-10 Multi-sensor
replace the AWACS beginning in FY2023. The FY2023
Command and Control Aircraft (MC2A). The intent of this
budget request seeks $227 million in research development,
program, as originally stated by the Air Force, was to
test, and evaluation to begin E-3 AWACS recapitalization.
combine the E-3 AWACS with the E-8 Joint Surveillance
Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS), equipped with
What Is the E-3 AWACS?
ground movement tracking indicator (GMTI) capabilities,
Since the 1970s, the United States has operated E-3
and the RC-135 Rivet Joint, a signals intelligence aircraft.
AWACS aircraft, with air movement tracking indicator
Due to technical challenges, however, the Air Force
(AMTI) technologies that give commanders the ability to
decided to remove the GMTI requirement from the program
see vast areas of airspace, including both friendly and
in 2006. The E-10 program was completely cancelled in
hostile aircraft, and manage the battle in that space. The E-3
2010.
is a modified Boeing 707 aircraft with a 30-foot radar dome
held above the aircraft’s fuselage (Figure 1). AWACS have
In 2017, the Air Force again proposed replacing the E-3
been sold to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
AWACS with a new program called the Advanced Battle
(NATO), France, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia.
Management System (ABMS). Following release of the
2018 National Defense Strategy, the Air Force reevaluated
Figure 1. E-3 AWACS
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
would be operational.
Source: U.S. Department of Defense, at https://media.defense.gov/
2021/Sep/29/2002864360/-1/-1/0/200204-F-XO631-9049.JPG.
Potential Replacement Options
Several airborne solutions might be able to replace the E-3
Over the years, the E-3 AWACS fleet has received a
AWACS in the short term to mitigate potential capability
number of upgrades to its radars and AMTI module in order
shortfalls. An option specifically identified by senior Air
to improve its command and control capabilities. From
Force officials is the E-7, also known as Wedgetail. The E-
1987 through 2001, the Air Force upgraded these systems
7, developed by the Royal Australian Air Force and
through the Block 30/35 program, which included increased
produced by Boeing in Renton and Tukwila, WA, is based
computer processing power, improved datalinks to
on a 737 airliner airframe (Figure 2). Australia contracted
communicate with more aircraft, defensive electronic
with Boeing to develop six Wedgetail aircraft in 2002, with
countermeasures, and integration of Global Positioning
initial delivery completed in 2009 and full operational
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Replacing the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)
capability achieved in 2015. The United Kingdom
and has an airframe similar to that used by the United States
subsequently contracted Boeing to produce five Wedgetails
in the EC-37 Compass Call. Using the same airframe could
in 2019, with delivery of the final aircraft expected in 2023.
potentially provide efficiencies by streamlining training and
Turkey and South Korea also operate the aircraft. The
maintenance, and improve parts availability. IAI has
Wedgetail utilizes a multirole electronically scanned area
indicated that the ELW-2085 can operate at 41,000 feet,
radar that provides 360 degrees of surveillance coverage,
with approximately nine hours of endurance. The aircraft
with a reported radar range in excess of 174 nautical miles
was developed in 2003 and was first used operationally in
(200 miles, or 322 kilometers). Boeing currently projects E-
2007. Israel, Singapore, and Italy currently operate the
7 Wedgetail operating costs to be 66% lower with higher
ELW-2085.
mission capable rates (i.e., more aircraft available for use)
when compared to E-3 AWACS.
Figure 4. ELW-2085
Figure 2. E-7 Wedgetail
Source: https://customer.janes.com/Janes/Display/JAEM1041-JC4IA.
Potential Questions for Congress
Source: Breaking Defense, at https://breakingdefense.com/2021/09/
brown-air-force-serious-about-e-7-wedgetail/.
What are the tradeoffs of pursuing a space-based
command and control architecture compared with a
In November 2021, Saab CEO Micael Johansson proposed
traditional air-based system? When does the Space
the Saab GlobalEye (Figure 3), made in Canada and
Force anticipate having a space-based GMTI and AMTI
Sweden, as an AWACS replacement. The GlobalEye is
capability ready to replace aircraft?
designed around a Bombardier 6000/6500 aircraft. Saab has
Assuming a capability shortfall until space-based GMTI
stated that GlobalEye utilizes an active electronically
and AMTI are achieved, what are the tradeoffs should
scanned array (AESA) radar with a reported range of 300
the Air Force choose to procure a mature aircraft like
miles, endurance of 11 hours, and a service ceiling of
the E-7 Wedgetail, versus procuring an aircraft with
60,000 feet. The United Arab Emirates is currently the only
potentially more capability but requiring time and
user of GlobalEye, first delivered in 2020, and planned full
funding for additional research and development?
operational capability in 2025. South Korea, Finland, and
Sweden have expressed interest in the aircraft.
How effective would these short-term solutions be in the
presence of advanced air defense and adversary fighter
Figure 3. Saab GlobalEye
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
enough unique capability to warrant deploying a
Source: Saab, at https://www.saab.com/products/globaleye.
dedicated fleet of aircraft?
Jerimiah Gertler, former Specialist in Military Aviation,
While Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has not publicly
originally co-authored this report.
discussed selling its ELW-2085 to the United States, it
remains a potential option (Figure 4). This aircraft, based
John R. Hoehn, Analyst in Military Capabilities and
on a G550 airframe from Gulfstream in Savannah, GA, also
Programs
features an AESA radar providing 360-degree coverage,
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Replacing the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)
IF12045
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12045 · VERSION 3 · UPDATED