Boeing to continue process of upgrading electronics in four Japan AWACS surveillance aircraft

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass., 16 Feb. 2015.Military avionics experts at the Boeing Co., will continue the process of electronics upgrades on four of Japan's wide-area radar surveillance jets under terms of a $402.8 million contract modification announced Friday.

Officials of the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., are asking the Boeing Defense, Space & Security segment in Oklahoma City, Okla., to continue upgrading four E-767 aircraft and three ground support facilities for the government of Japan as part of the Japan Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) mission control unit design and production program.

Boeing originally won a $25.6 million foreign military sales contract last fall to begin work on upgrading Japan's AWACS radar surveillance and control aircraft, which are similar to the U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft.

Japan's AWACS aircraft are based on the Boeing 767 widebody passenger jet, while the U.S. versions are based on the older Boeing 708 airframe.

Related: Air Force considers major electronic upgrades to AWACS aircraft computers and sensors

The aircraft upgrade is to provide Japan with an upgraded AWACS command and control capability, and to enable Japan’s AWACS fleet to be more compatible with the U.S. Air Force AWACS fleet baseline and provide for greater interoperability. Japan will use this enhanced capability to provide for its self-defense.

Boeing will continue work to upgrade mission computing, electronic support measures, traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS), interrogator friend or foe (IFF) transponder, next-generation IFF, automatic identification system, and data link upgrades for the four E-767 AWACS aircraft for Japan.

The E-767 mission computer upgrade includes four electronic support measure systems; eight AN/UPX-40 next generation IFF systems; eight AN/APX-119 IFF transponders; and four KIV-77 cryptographic computers. The project also involves design and kit production, support and test equipment, provisioning, spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical documentation, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and technical support, installation and checkout, and other related elements of program support.

On the contract modification announced Friday, Boeing will do the work in Oklahoma City, Okla., and should be finished by June 2020. For more information contact Boeing Defense, Space & Security online at www.boeing.com/boeing/bds, or the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at www.wpafb.af.mil/aflcmce.