Boeing announced yesterday that it has completed satellite communications and air traffic management upgrades to the Air Force’s fleet of 32 E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System command and control aircraft. This work, completed several months ahead of schedule, was carried out under the program called integrated demand assigned multiple access/global air traffic management, or IDG for short. “The IDG program has been a tremendous success,” said Kelly Freebairn, Boeing’s program manager. The DAMA satellite communications upgrade provides multiple channels for voice and data, improving each AWACS aircraft’s ability to communicate with other aircraft and ground stations, the company said. The GATM capability, which includes a collision avoidance system, allows AWACS aircraft to fly more closely to other aircraft, which is essential for them being cleared to operate in congested airspace worldwide like in Europe and along the US East Coast.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.