Boeing

The first two Boeing 767 Airborne Warning and Control (AWACS) aircraft successfully completed production acceptance testing, the final series of tests prior to delivery to Japan. In bringing testing to a close, the U.S. Air Force - overseer of the AWACS test program - concurred that aircraft systems are working as designed to meet the airborne surveillance requirements.

As part of the overall test program, radar, identification friend-or-foe electronics, navigation, computers/displays, mission systems and communication systems performance were thoroughly tested and evaluated. Since testing began in August 1997, the two aircraft have logged a total of 194 flights and 798 flight hours. Jack Sperry, Boeing 767 AWACS program manager, said Boeing is very pleased with the aircraft system's performance.

"Both air vehicles proved to be extremely reliable throughout what was a very rigorous test program," Sperry said. "Currently, we're going through final preparations prior to delivery to our customer."

AWACS is the world's standard for Airborne Early Warning (AEW) systems. Currently carried on-board militarized 707 aircraft, it fills the need of both airborne surveillance, and command, control and communications functions for tactical and air defense forces. Production of the 707 airframe ended in 1991, with the 767 platform chosen as its replacement.

The 767 AWACS offers countries self-defense capability well beyond the range of current ground-based systems.

Boeing is on contract to build four 767 AWACS for Japan. The first two will be delivered in March 1998, the second two in 1999.