Boeing exhibited the Turkish air force's first of four 737-based airborne early warning and control aircraft at the show, and says the troubled project is back on track. The aircraft will begin developmental flight tests next May and should enter service during 2010. Referring to previous development problems such as software issues and the positioning of the aircraft's Northrop Grumman Mesa radar, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems Peace Eagle programme manager Mark Ellis says: "We are past those, and we are performing." Ellis says it is unclear when the United Arab Emirates will advance its long-planned AEW competition, which could pit the 737-based design against Northrop's E-2D Hawkeye and a proposal based around the Saab Microwave Systems Erieye radar, using either the Embraer EMB-145 or Saab 2000.
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Source: Flight International
