Could NATO Turn to the E-7 As Its Newest Plane?

Dario Leone

Security, Europe

Time to choose.

“There will be things we need to do to the NATO E-3A fleet to keep it flying past 2040.”

Speaking to Reuters, Brig. Gen. Michael Gschossmann, general manager of the NATO AEW&C Programme Management Agency, says the alliance might switch to the Boeing 737 AEW&C platform to replace the aging E-3.

Gschossmann says the 737 has the capacity for new capabilities, such as operating drones for expanded surveillance.

Warning that time is running out to find a replacement for the E-3, Gschossmann suggests that NATO “bet on the proven technology that (it) already have in the E-7.”

According to Gschossmann the E-7 aircraft are large enough to add potential new capabilities, such as operating drones for expanded surveillance, in coming years.

“We have to ensure that we acquire a system that has growth potential, but that also – for financial and time reasons – is based on existing capabilities,” he said.

The AWACS planes are among the few military assets owned and operated by NATO, rather than individual states. They are used to conduct missions such as air policing, support for counter-terrorism operations, evacuations, and crisis response.

NATO is considering the AWACS replacement issue as part of a broader study of surveillance, but the process has dragged out given rapidly changing threats and newly emerging capabilities.