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Updated July 26, 2022
Replacing the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System
(AWACS)
The U.S. Air Force recently expressed its interest to replace
countermeasures, and integration of Global Positioning
the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)
System (GPS) navigation devices. Starting in 2003, through
fleet. Over the summer and fall of 2021, several senior Air
the Block 40/45 program, the Air Force upgraded the
Force officials, including Air Force Secretary Frank
systems again, to include improvements to electronic
Kendall and Commander of Pacific Air Forces General
support measures and datalink/spectrum management, new
Kenneth Wilsbach, discussed plans to replace the E-3
battle management computer systems, and enhanced
AWACS. The officials stated that the Air Force needs to
satellite-based internet chat capabilities. These upgrades are
replace its fleet of E-3 AWACS aircraft due to their age,
anticipated to reach full operational capability in May 2024.
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
while retiring 15 of 31 E-3 AWACS.
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 (
In 2017, the Air Force again proposed replacing the E-3
Figure 1). AWACS have
AWACS with a new program called the Advanced Battle
been sold to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Management System (ABMS). Following release of the
(NATO), France, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia.
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/
AWACS Replacement Program
2021/Sep/29/2002864360/-1/-1/0/200204-F-XO631-9049.JPG.
The Air Force is obtaining the E-7 aircraft to, in part,
replace the capabilities of the AWACS. In April 2022, the
Over the years, the E-3 AWACS fleet received a number of
Air Force announced it would award a sole source contract
upgrades to its radars and AMTI module in order to
to Boeing for its E-7, also known as Wedgetail. The
improve its command and control capabilities. From 1987
Wedgetail utilizes a multirole electronically scanned area
through 2001, the Air Force upgraded these systems
radar that provides 360 degrees of surveillance coverage,
through the Block 30/35 program, which included increased
with a reported radar range in excess of 174 nautical miles
computer processing power, improved datalinks to
(200 miles, or 322 kilometers). The E-7 Wedgetail also is
communicate with more aircraft, defensive electronic
capable of being refueled in-flight. Boeing currently
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Replacing the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)
projects E-7 Wedgetail operating costs to be 66% lower
issue that could prevent an accelerated E-7 Wedgetail
with higher mission capable rates (i.e., more aircraft
procurement is receiving certification from the Federal
available for use) when compared to E-3 AWACS.
Aviation Administration (FAA). FAA certification has
According to the defense press, three companies initially
delayed other Air Force programs in the past.
responded to a request for information for potential
Congressional Action
AWACS replacement aircraft. However, the Air Force
The House-passed version of the FY2023 National Defense
determined only the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail met all of its
Authorization Act (NDAA) (H.R. 7900) discusses the
requirements—the other two aircraft did not provide aerial
AWACS Replacement program. Section 132 would limit
refueling capabilities or 360-degree radar coverage.
the number of E-3s that may be retired in one fiscal year.
The E-7, developed by the Royal Australian Air Force and
This section would also require the Secretary of the Air
produced by Boeing in Renton and Tukwila, WA, is based
Force to provide a report comparing the E-3 and E-7
on a 737 airliner airframe (Figure 2). Australia contracted
capabilities. Similarly, Section 141 of the Senate FY2023
with Boeing to develop and acquire six Wedgetail aircraft
NDAA (S. 4543) would also limit the number of E-3s that
in 2002, with initial delivery completed in 2009 and full
can be retired until receiving a report from the Air Force’s
operational capability achieved in 2015. The United
Service Acquisition Executive. The Senate would, in
Kingdom subsequently contracted Boeing to produce five
addition, add $301 million to procure an additional E-7
Wedgetails in 2019, with delivery of the final aircraft
prototype aircraft.
expected in 2023. Turkey and South Korea also operate the
The House Appropriations Committee report (H.Rept. 117-
aircraft.
388) accompanying the House-version of the FY2023
Figure 2. E-7 Wedgetail
Defense Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 8236), would
reduce funding for the AWACS Replacement Program
from $226.7 million to $206.7 million (a $20 million
reduction).
Potential Questions for Congress
What are the tradeoffs of pursuing a space-based
command and control architecture compared with a
traditional air-based system? When does the Space
Force anticipate having a space-based GMTI and AMTI
capability ready to replace aircraft?
How effective will the E-7 Wedgetail be in the presence
of advanced air defense and adversary fighter aircraft?
Do improved sensor capabilities and ranges address
increased risks posed by adversaries?
Source: Breaking Defense, at https://breakingdefense.com/2021/09/
The E-7 Wedgetail is a crewed aircraft. Could uncrewed
brown-air-force-serious-about-e-7-wedgetail/.
systems perform similar command and control
missions? How much additional development would an
According to defense press sources, the Air Force intends
uncrewed solution require, and would it offer
to purchase two aircraft as prototypes—one aircraft
operational advantages?
purchased in FY2023 and the other aircraft in FY2024—
and 20 additional aircraft. This acquisition strategy would
With ABMS linking sensors together across the service,
result in a total fleet of 22 aircraft. Initial Operating
the Air Force considers every aircraft to be a sensor
Capability is anticipated to be in FY2030. To meet this
platform. Does a potential E-3 replacement bring
development cycle, the Air Force is using middle tier
enough unique capability to warrant deploying a
acquisition authorities for rapid prototyping.
dedicated fleet of aircraft?
Some Members of Congress have expressed interest in
Jeremiah “JJ” Gertler, former Specialist in Military
potentially accelerating the E-7 Wedgetail procurement.
Aviation, originally co-authored this report.
Andrew Hunter, the Air Force’s Service Acquisition
John R. Hoehn, Analyst in Military Capabilities and
Executive, in July 2022 stated there are limited options in
accelerating procurement. Mr. Hunter noted the E-7
Programs
Wedgetail requires substantial modifications from a normal
IF12045
737 and requires software development. Another potential
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Replacing the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12045 · VERSION 5 · UPDATED