SEATTLE, Nov. 23, 1998 -- The third and fourth Boeing 767 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft have successfully completed flight and mission system testing.
The Production Acceptance Test program evaluated whether the aircrafts' radar, identification friend-or-foe electronics, navigation, computers/displays, mission systems and communication systems performed as designed. Four 767 AWACS have been sold to the government of Japan. Two were delivered in March 1998; the second two will be delivered in early 1999.
"The Production Acceptance tests were 100-percent successful and completed exactly as planned. Also, each aircraft's mission system performed with outstanding reliability," said Jack Sperry, Boeing Japan 767 AWACS program manager.
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 one alternative replacement platform. The 767 AWACS offers countries self-defense capability well beyond the range of current ground-based systems.