The Atlantic Nations Defense Organization (NATO) is collaborating billions of dollars with the giant American aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, to modernize its fleet of AWACS surveillance aircraft.
Only a few days before the NATO summit in London, on Wednesday (27/11) a billion US dollar contract (the exact contract figure was not explained) was signed by both parties.
“Modernization will ensure NATO remains at the forefront of technology,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in a press conference with Boeing President Michael Arthur as published by Al Jazeera.
In the future, as Stoltenberg said, modernization will be devoted to increasing communication capabilities and new, more sophisticated networks. Such as making computer processors, servers and other equipment more powerful.
AWACS itself was first flown in 1982 and has undergone several modernizations. So that it can have the ability to detect enemy aircraft, missiles, ships and other weapons located far outside NATO borders.
This aircraft made by Boeing has assisted NATO in its mission against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL/ISIS) in Syria and its surroundings. In 2014, AWACS was also present along NATO’s eastern flank when Russia annexed Crimea.
The modernization itself will be funded by 16 NATO allies. Such as the US, Germany, Türkiye, Italy and Spain. Apart from Boeing, some work was also subcontracted to European suppliers such as Leonardo and Airbus.
Source : RMOL.id
