Boeing is forecasting a potential global market for more than 50 airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft over the medium- to long-term.
Demand is for systems in the same class as its 737-basedmodel equipped with Northrop Grumman's Multirole Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar.
Key targets include South Korea - with tenders for that requirement closing at the end of this month - Chile, Italy and Spain.
In the Middle East, Boeing hopes to follow last year's success in Turkey with sales to Egypt, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Targets in Asia-Pacific include Singapore's medium-term requirement to replace its Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeyes, and possible longer-term needs in Malaysia and Thailand. The company is also seeking sales to the US Air Force as "an adjunct/replacement market" to operate alongside Boeing E-3 Sentrys.
Boeing says negotiations will continue with Turkey for six to eight aircraft, but it will give no date for contract signing.
Boeing has also released further details on the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF's) launch customer deal for four aircraft and six mission systems signed last December. Initial aircraft/radar integration is scheduled for 2003. The first two deliveries to the RAAF are to take place in late 2006, with another two in 2007.
The Australian order is valued at A$2.03 billion ($1.07billion), structured on a US dollar component which is currently valued at A$1.8 billion, and an Australian dollar segment set at A$466 million.
The floating component is pegged to the exchange rates on 20 December 2000. Boeing says that the arrangement reflects the general split of work between the two countries.
Australia's initial contract option on two more aircraft must be exercised within two years, and requires a funding decision in next year's defence budget. Australia has an option on a seventh aircraft.
Speaking at the show, Patrick Gill, Boeing 737 AEW&C programme manager, said the RAAF configuration will differ from the standard specification. "Boeing is developing this product as part of a new line and Australia is our launch customer. They have a configuration which is a little bit different."
RAAF specific characteristics include 10 operator consoles compared to a baseline of eight, a more capable communications architecture, and Australian electronic support measures and an electronic warfare self-protection suite.
Source: Flight International
