Boeing has now also modernized the last of the AWACS reconnaissance aircraft and handed it back to NATO.
The AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) received modern avionics featuring a glass cockpit and was the 14th aircraft to be redelivered to the NATO base in Manching, fully equipped for future airspace surveillance and navigation.
AWACS Modernization in Manching
As part of this process, the AWACS aircraft has been equipped with five color displays, which replace the panels dating back to the 1970s and provide the crew with customizable instrument controls and radar data. The first NATO AWACS aircraft was refurbished by Boeing in Seattle and redelivered in 2016. The remaining 13 aircraft were modernized at Manching itself. This upgrade is intended to ensure the aircraft are optimally equipped for military airspace surveillance for years to come.
