NATO is Increasing the Number of Reconnaissance Aircraft to Monitor Threats From Russia
The North Atlantic Alliance plans to acquire six Boeing E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to better track threats from Russia.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement.
"Surveillance and control aircraft are crucial for NATO’s collective defence and I welcome Allies’ commitment to investing in high-end capabilities," emphasized Jens Stoltenberg.
According to the announcement, the decision to acquire new aircraft is prompted by the fact that the existing airborne warning and control system (AWACS) fleet "nears retirement."
It is expected that the production of the new Boeing E-7A Wedgetail aircraft will commence in the coming years, with the first aircraft ready for operation by 2031. The main base for the aircraft fleet will be the Geilenkirchen airbase in Germany.
This procurement project will be one of the largest in NATO's history.
"By pooling resources, Allies can buy and operate major assets collectively that would be too expensive for individual countries to purchase. This investment in state-of-the-art technology shows the strength of transatlantic defence cooperation as we continue to adapt to a more unstable world," emphasized NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg.
It's worth noting that the E7 Wedgetail is a modern early warning and control aircraft that serves command and control functions and can provide advance warning of dangerous situations. Thanks to its advanced radar, the aircraft can detect enemy aircraft, missiles, and ships over long distances.
NATO has been operating similar E-3A (AWACS) aircraft since the 1980s. Over the years, they have participated in major Alliance operations, including the fight against ISIS, and are widely used for patrolling NATO's eastern flank following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
This summer, NATO conducted the largest Air Defender training exercise in the Bloc's history, involving approximately 250 aircraft and over 10,000 military personnel from all NATO member countries, as well as Japan and Sweden.