On 21 September, the U.S. Department of Defence (DoD) has announced that Raytheon Co. is awarded a contract for Phase II risk reduction for the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS).

According to the DoD’s statement, the Raytheon Co. has been awarded a $14 million contract for a risk reduction study on the AWACS aircraft.

The contract provides for risk reduction activities related to early system-level integration; AWACS-specific modifications to the existing sensor electronics unit; AWACS-specific antenna solutions; and integration prototyping.

Also noted that work will be performed in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is expected to be completed by March 20, 2020.

An Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) is an airborne radar picket system designed to detect aircraft, ships and vehicles at long ranges and perform command and control of the battlespace in an air engagement by directing fighter and attack aircraft strikes.

AEW&C aircraft are used for both defensive and offensive air operations, and are to the NATO and US forces trained or integrated Air Forces what the Command Information Center is to a US Navy warship, plus a highly mobile and powerful radar platform.

The system is used offensively to direct fighters to their target locations, and defensively, directing counterattacks on enemy forces, both air and ground.