Air Force asks Plexsys to manage obsolescent parts for E-3 Sentry AWACS radar surveillance aircraft
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – U.S. Air Force airborne reconnaissance experts needed to manage obsolescent components aboard the E-3G Airborne Warning and Control (AWACS) aircraft. They found a solution from Plexsys Interface Products Inc. in Camas, Wash.
Officials of the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., announced a $16.8 million contract to Plexsys on Friday for active diminishing manufacturing sources management for the AWACS aircraft.
Radar surveillance
The E-3 Sentry AWACS radar surveillance aircraft handles command and control battle management, surveillance, target detection, and tracking. The aircraft is notable for its large Frisbee-like radar antenna mounted to the top of the aircraft's fuselage.
The E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, based on the four-engine Boeing 707 single-aisle commercial aircraft, has been in service since 1977. With nearly 50 years on the airframe, the E-3 AWACS has its share of obsolescent and difficult-to-find electronic parts.
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Dealing with parts obsolescence can be a tricky job. Experts either must find spare parts from electronics distributors, remanufacture these parts through third-party electronics specialist, or go through the expensive and time-consuming process of redesigning electronic subsystems with modern electronic parts.
Only rarely are obsolescent parts available from their original manufacturers. In fact, the original parts manufacturers often have gone out of business.
Diminishing manufacturing sources
This contract calls for Plexsys to provide operation and maintenance, active diminishing manufacturing sources management, hardware and software updates to fielded AWACS aircraft, distributed mission operations network mission package updates, and hardware and software support to the 558th Software Engineering Squadron.
On this sole-source contract, Plexsys will do the work in Camas, Wash., and should be finished by January 2029. For more information contact Plexsys Interface Products online at www.plexsys.com, or the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center at www.aflcmc.af.mil.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
