Boeing E-767 Totally Explained

Everything about Boeing E-767 totally explained

The Boeing E-767 is an Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft. It was designed in response for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's requirements, and is essentially the E-3 Sentry mission package on a Boeing 767-200 platform.

Development

Background

On September 6, 1976, Russian Air Force pilot Victor Belenko successfully defected to the West, flying his MiG-25 'Foxbat' to Hakodate, Japan. During this incident, Japan Self-Defense Force radar lost track of the aircraft when he flew his MiG-25 at a low altitude, which prompted the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to consider procurement of airborne early warning aircraft.
In 1976, the United States Air Force was about to deploy E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system aircraft, which was considered to be the prime candidate for the airborne early warning mission by JASDF. However, the Japan Defense Agency (JDA, now Ministry of Defense) realized that the E-3 wouldn't be readily available due to the needs of USAF and opted to procure the E-2 Hawkeye instead. The E-2C was put into service with the Airborne Early Warning Group (AEWG) at JASDF Misawa Air Base in January 1987.
In 1991, the JDA requested funds to upgrade the airborne early warning system procuring the E-3. Unfortunately, production of the Boeing 707-based E-3 airframe had ended in 1991 and the plan was shelved. The following year, Boeing proposed a 767-based AWACS, and the JDA agreed to procure two E-767 in fiscal year 1993 and two more in fiscal year 1994.

Procurement

JDA requested a budget of JPY113.9 billion to procure two E-767s in fiscal year 1993 and JPY108.1 billion for two more E-767s in FY 1994. Mission equipment is installed in forward cabin to balance the weight with the rotodome on the aft fuselage. The aft cabin contains the crew rest area, galley and lavatory.

External features

The E-767's exterior is painted in gray. The windows are removed in order to protect the crew and equipment from intense radio frequency emission from its radio equipment. A rotodome 30 feet (9.14 meters) in diameter and 6 feet (1.83 m) thick at the center is mounted above the aft fuselage on two struts. The rotodome rotates at 6 rpm during operations and at 0.25 rpm to lubricate the rotation mechanisms even when the radar isn't used.
There are numerous blade antennae for UHF and VHF communication along the centerline of the fuselage on the top and bottom. There is a rod antenna at each wing tip for HF communication. A fairing in the aft fuselage contains an antenna for JTIDS (Joint Tactical Information Distribution System).

Powerplants

Two General Electric CF6-80C2B6FA high bypass turbofan engines, 61,500 pounds thrust each. The original 90 kVA generator in each engine was replaced with two 150 kVA generators to provide electric power to the radar and other equipment.

Airborne early warning and control system

The system on E-767 is essentially the same as the late E-3 models, using Northrop Grumman's (formerly Westinghouse Electronic Systems) AN/APY-2 radar system. This system is a three dimensional radar that measures azimuth, range, and elevation simultaneously, and has superior surveillance capability over water compared to the AN/APY-1 system on the earlier E-3 models.
   The AN/APY-2 is a pulse-doppler radar that can determine the velocity of a tracked target. This surveillance system includes a flexible, multi-mode radar, which enables AWACS to separate maritime and airborne targets from ground and sea clutter returns that limit other modern radar systems.
   Its radar has a 360-degree view, and at operating altitudes it can detect targets more than 320 kilometers (200 miles) away. AWACS mission equipment can separate, manage and display these targets individually on situational displays.
   AN/APY-2's antenna and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Mk XII system's antenna are housed in the rotodome back to back.
   The information acquired by the radar system is processed by IBM's CC-2E central computer conformed to E-3 Block 30/35 Modification and can be displayed on the 14 displays onboard.
   Other major subsystems in the E-767 are identification, tactical data link, and navigation.

Radar System Improvement Program

In November 2006, Boeing was awarded a $108 million contract to deliver Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP) kits to Japan's fleet of four E-767 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.
   The Foreign Military Sale was contracted through the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. The sale also includes spare and repair parts, support equipment and technical documentation. Installation of the kits will occur during a follow-on contract.
   RSIP increases the AWACS aircraft's radar sensitivity, allowing it to detect and track smaller targets. It also improves the radar's existing computer with a new high-reliability multi-processor and rewrites the software to facilitate future maintenance and enhancements.
   The RSIP kit, built principally by Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Baltimore, MD, under a subcontract to Boeing, consists of a new radar computer, a radar control maintenance panel as well as software upgrades to the radar and mission system programs.

Operational service

The first E-767 made the first flight on October 4, 1994 at Paine Field, Wash. First flight with the rotodome installed occurred on August 9, 1996 and it was delivered to JASDF in March 11, 1998 along with the second E-767. Aircraft No. 3 and No. 4 were delivered on January 5, 1999. On May 10, 2000, all four E-767s were put into service with Airborne Early Warning Group (AEWG) 601st squadron and operated by airborne warning and control squadron crew at JASDF Hamamatsu Airbase. (Hamamatsu Airbase's runway needed to be reinforced to accommodate the E-767.) On March 31, 2005, the two squadrons were merged and became AEWG airborne warning and control squadron (Hamamatsu).

Operators

Japan Air Self-Defense Force operates four E-767.

Specifications (E-767)

Further Information

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