E-7A
Abstract
This budget line funds the E-7A program. The E-7A program replaces the unsustainable E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS). The E-3 AWACS, first fielded in the 1970s, is at the end of its service life, and costly to maintain. The E-7A will be the USAF's principal airborne sensor for detecting, identifying, tracking, and reporting aerial tracks for the Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC). The E-7A will provide multiple benefits and increased capabilities to the USAF and the Joint Services, including but not limited to: 1) ability to detect and track highly maneuverable, small radar cross-section airborne targets (modern and emerging threats); 2) enable greater airborne battlespace awareness through its precise, real-time air picture of sufficient quality to control and direct individual aircraft under a wide range of environmental and operational conditions; and 3) mitigate reliability, operational availability, maintainability, and sustainability issues. The E-7A is a highly modified Airborne Battle Management and Command and Control aircraft integrating a Boeing 737-700 Next Generation airframe with reinforced Section 46, a Northrop Grumman Multifunction Electronically Scanned Array Radar mounted on the aircraft's Section 46, and two 180-kVA generators added to commercial CFM-56 engines mounted beneath each wing. FY2024 funding will support continued rapid prototyping of two E-7As. Rapid prototyping consists of completing end items and potential modification components for up to two aircraft to support test and evaluation; development efforts to ensure compliance with US cyber security and program protection standards; development efforts to ensure navigation and communication systems comply with GPS M-Code and Narrowband SATCOM mandates; design and build-out of contractor and government System Integration Laboratories supporting development, integration, and test activities, and provide analysis and products supporting future requirements and airworthiness certification. The total cost of the E-7A Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is $2,730.776 million, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. E-7A is not fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. The Department of the Air Force is assessing all options to address the funding shortfalls for MTA programs including additional funding in a future budget request performance trades based on technical maturity, or transition to alternative pathways. In the previous budget cycle, this effort was referred to as E-3 Replacement, included in PE 0207417F. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY23 4.538M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element. This effort is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P), because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2024
- Source ID
- 644413_0604007F_4_3600_PB_2024
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