The Boeing Co., Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma, has been awarded a $397,921,549 firm-fixed-price contract for the Royal Saudi Air Power (RSAF) E-3A Sentry Airborne Warning and Management System (AWACS) Modernization Program, Section 2. This contract offers for manufacturing, coaching and set up and checkout, to maintain the RSAF E-3 AWACS fleet interoperable with the U.S. Air Power and functionally viable by its anticipated finish of life in 2040. Work is predicted to be accomplished by Feb. 21, 2026. This contract includes 100% Overseas Navy Gross sales (FMS) to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This award is the results of a sole-source acquisition. FMS funds for $397,921,549 are being obligated on the time of the award. U.S. Air Power Life Cycle Administration Middle, Hanscom Air Power Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting exercise.
The Royal Saudi Air Power bought 5 Boeing E-3A Sentry plane in 1983. About 2004, modifications started to transform no less than a KE-3A tanker right into a RE-3 digital intelligence-gathering plane. The Boeing E-3 Sentry is an American airborne early warning and management (AEW&C) plane developed by Boeing. E-3As are generally generally known as AWACS (Airborne Warning and Management System). Derived from the Boeing 707 airliner, it offers all-weather surveillance, command, management, and communications, and is utilized by the USA Air Power, NATO, French Air and Area Power, and Royal Saudi Air Power. The E-3 is distinguished by the distinctive rotating radar dome (rotodome) above the fuselage. Manufacturing led to 1992 after 68 plane had been constructed. The primary USAF E-3 was delivered in March 1977, and in the course of the subsequent seven years, a complete of 34 plane have been manufactured. E-3s have been additionally bought by NATO (18), the UK (7), France (4), and Saudi Arabia (5).
Commercial
The E-3 Sentry’s airframe is a modified Boeing 707-320B Superior mannequin. Modifications embody a rotating radar dome (rotodome), uprated hydraulics from 241 to 345 bar (3500–5000 PSI) to drive the rotodome,[17] single-point floor refueling, air refueling, and a bail-out tunnel or chute. A second bail-out chute was deleted to chop mounting prices. USAF and NATO E-3s have an unrefueled vary of seven,400 km (4,600 mi) or 8 hours of flying.[19] The newer E-3 variations purchased by France, Saudi Arabia, and the UK are geared up with newer CFM56-2 turbofan engines, and these can fly for about 11 hours or greater than 9,250 km (5,750 mi). The Sentry’s vary and on-station time will be elevated by air-to-air refueling and the crews can work in shifts by way of an on-board crew relaxation and meals space. The plane is provided with one bathroom within the rear, and one behind the cockpit. Saudi E-3s have been delivered with a further bathroom within the rear.
When deployed, the E-3 screens an assigned space of the battlefield and offers info for commanders of air operations to realize and keep management of the battle; whereas as an air protection asset, E-3s can detect, establish, and observe airborne enemy forces removed from the boundaries of the U.S. or NATO international locations and might direct interceptor plane to those targets. In assist of air-to-ground operations, the E-3 can present direct info wanted for interdiction, reconnaissance, airlift, and close-air assist for pleasant floor forces. The rotodome makes use of bleed air, exterior cooling doorways, and fluorocarbon-based chilly plate cooling to keep up the digital and mechanical gear temperatures. The hydraulically rotated antenna system permits the AN/APY-1 and AN/APY-2 passive electronically scanned array radar system to supply surveillance from the Earth’s floor up into the stratosphere, over land or water.
