Boeing 737 Airborne early warning and control

The 737 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system encompasses both the Boeing 737-700 aircraft platform and a variety of aircraft control and advanced radar systems. Consisting of components created by Boeing and Northrop Grumman, the 737 AEW&C represents the standard for future airborne early warning systems.

he AEW&C system includes the following elements: Australia, Turkey and South Korea have purchased 14 737 AEW&C systems.
 * The multi-role electronically scanned array (MESA) radar system includes:
 * A steerable beam, L-band, electronically scanned array that provides optimal performance in range, tracking, and accuracy
 * Radar that can track airborne and maritime targets simultaneously
 * Assistance to the mission crew in directing the control of high-performance fighter aircraft while continuously scanning the operational area
 * A "top hat" portion that provides a practical solution for fore and aft coverage while maintaining the low drag profile of the dorsal array system -- enabling the MESA system to be installed on the mid-size 737-700 platform without significant impact to aircraft performance
 * An integrated identification friend or foe (IFF) function that shares the primary radar arrays to reduce weight, improve reliability, and simplify target correlation
 * Advanced open-system architecture with standards-based design for cost-effective integration and add-on flexibility

For more information, read the 737-AEW&C (PDF) overview.

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