Boeing on Tuesday delivered the first upgraded E-3A AWACS to NATO, equipped with cockpit upgrades. The Communication Navigation Surveillance/Air Traffic Management upgrade includes a digital flight deck and avionics upgrades needed to comply with current and future air traffic control requirements, Boeing said in a news release. The cockpits include five new full-color glass displays, used to customize engine, navigation, and radar data. These upgrades, which will eventually be outfitted on 14 NATO aircraft, reduce the aircrew size by one, according to Boeing.
The Department of the Air Force wants to launch a construction boom with its fiscal 2027 budget, more than doubling its request over 2026, according to budget documents.