Boeing E-767

The Boeing E -767 is an aircraft for aerial surveillance ( Airborne Warning and Control System, AWACS ), which the Boeing E-3 Sentry replacing in this role. The pattern is based on the Boeing 767 -200ER and has the same distinctive air surveillance radar as the 707 derived from the Boeing predecessor. So far has provided the type in service with the Japanese air force one force.

Description

The development of the Boeing E -767 can be traced back to the year 1976, when the Soviet pilot Viktor Ivanovich Belenko successfully Foxbat defected with a MiG -25P to Hakodate. During his escape in Japanese airspace, the Japanese forces had difficulties to follow the MiG -25 with the ground radar, although this actually can be quite good locations with the radar. From this experience, the need for the Japanese Air Force was created to provide an AWACS reconnaissance aircraft.

The first candidate was the most appropriate in-process E-3 Sentry. However, one doubt in Japan because the pattern would be in the foreseeable future available, which is why they decided on the E-2C Hawkeye by Grumman. These machines came in January 1987 when their service to the Japanese Air Force. In this case, it turned out that the Hawkeyes Japanese airspace surveillance, although much improved, but their low flight range and duration of use was a problem.

Due to these problems, set in 1991 again with the E-3 apart. Japan initially presented a request for Sentry, however, Boeing introduced the same year the production of the 707, on which the E- 3 is based. Therefore, Boeing presented the following year an alternative concept for a AWACS reconnaissance aircraft based on the 767, the interior space of the E -767 is 50% larger than that of the E-3 Sentry. The most striking change in the external E -767 compared with the initial pattern is the Radarradom on top of the fuselage. This houses the surveillance radar type Northrop Grumman AN/APY-2 that operates in the range of 2-4 GHz. Japan accepted the proposal and ordered in 1993 and 94 each have two machines. The first E -767 completed its maiden flight on 4 October 1994. On 9 August 1996, followed by the first test flight with the complete radar equipment. On 11 March 1998, the first two machines were eventually delivered, the last two followed on 5 January 1999. All four E -767 machine was placed at 610st AEWG Squadron on 10 May 2000 in service, and have since at the Hamamatsu Air Base stationed.

In May 2006, the Japanese Air Force signed a contract in order to modernize the avionics of the E -767, this Agreement between Japan and Boeing was closed with a total of 35.7 million U.S. dollars on April 6, 2011. As part of the modernization of the machines will get a new computer for processing the data supplied by the radar and new operating units for the AN/APY-2. In addition, the control station can be improved with new software.

Military user

Japan Japanese Air Force ( Japan Air Self-Defense Force, JASDF ): 4

Specifications