European countries, including the Netherlands, have decided not to purchase six Boeing E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Warning and Control aircraft (AWACS) as a replacement for the aging Boeing E-3A fleet.
An official confirmed this statement Issued by the Dutch Ministry of Defence.
The existing E-3A AWACS aircraft, which have been monitoring European airspace from Geilenkirchen, Germany since 1982, are expected to reach the end of their service life in 2035. The Netherlands said that the plane also causing noise pollution In the area.
The decision is as follows US withdrawal from joint AWACS replacement program in July 2024Which left the initiative without its strategic and financial base. The remaining European partners that are part of the Support Partnership Committee have therefore suspended plans to purchase the US-made E-7 Wedgetail and are now looking for alternative solutions and partners.
“The goal is still other, “Quiet aircraft will be operational by 2035.” said Dutch State Defense Secretary Gijs Tuinman. ,America’s return (c.) Joint AWACS Replacement Program) It also shows the importance of investing as much as possible in European industry.,
AWACS aircraft play a vital role in NATO operations, equipped with radar and communications systems that enable rapid deployment and coordination of air operations. NATO first introduced these radar aircraft into service in 1982.
With the E-7 acquisition now postponed, European partners are expected to explore other options to maintain NATO’s air surveillance capability beyond 2035. While there is no European-made AWACS platform that directly matches the capabilities of the Boeing E-7, alternatives include modified Airbus A330, Airbus C295 AEW&C, Dassault Falcon-based AEW platforms, and Saab GlobalEye aircraft.