CoolPix: RAAF (Australian) AEW&C - The Prickly 737!

(click pic for hi-res)

 The familiar Boeing 707 based E-3 AWACS (Airborne Warning And Control System) with the huge rotating disc antenna mounted in front of the vertical fin has been the mainstay of eye-in-the-sky air traffic control and detection for military operations since the late 70's. But when the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) was looking to add large scale AWACS capabilities, they wanted a package that was a lot more cost effective. The Boeing 737 based AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Control), seen here flying over Sydney Harbour, is the result. It's actually a pretty stunning picture of the airplane nicknamed Wedgetail, with such a beautiful and iconic Australian backdrop... and it gives a really good view of the rather massive number of small prickly antennas and other unique protrusions that give this airplane its cutting edge electronic capabilities. 

 The significantly smaller 737-700 airframe with only two engines to feed and maintain greatly reduce overall operating costs. And while I can't speak for how effective that much smaller external antenna is as compared to the big rotating one on the E-3, it surely seems it must be simpler to maintain since it's fixed. The RAAF has ordered six 737 AEW&C, and while two of them were delivered by Boeing about a year ago, it wasn't until last May that the RAAF officially had them handed over into their full control. Three more aircraft have been scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year, but I haven't been able to confirm if that's still likely to happen. Overall, much like most all large aircraft projects in the last 10 years, the 737 AEW&C program has been somewhat disrupted by long delays. 

 In addition to the six airplanes ordered by the RAAF, Turkey and South Korea have both ordered some of them too. According to Boeing, a total of 14 of the 737 AEW&C aircraft have been purchased. If the deliveries can pick up pace, and if the airplane performs well in its intended role, this could become the new standard for airborne early warning systems.