Article Posted on : - Feb 18, 2014

French Air Force AWACS. Photo: AFI KLM E&M

PARIS (BNS): The Mid-Life Upgrade modification on the first of four E-3F Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft for the French Air Force has been completed.

The upgrade is part of a Foreign Military Sale in 2010 between France's Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) and the U S government.

The Mid Life Upgrade - the largest ever for French AWACS - will provide the fleet a robust picture of the battlespace and more actionable information while reducing aircrew workload.

Boeing subcontractor Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) began upgrading the electrical, mechanical and structural systems and mission hardware on this aircraft in June last year.

The aircraft now will undergo ground and flight tests at Avord Air Base before being delivered to the Air Force later this year once qualified by DGA.

The Mid-Life Upgrade is the most important to date for the French fleet and is modelled on the Block 40/45 contract developed for the U S AWACS fleet.

While the first AWACS aircraft was housed at the AFI KLM E&M site at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, the three other AWACS aircraft will be upgraded in a new facility owned by AFI KLM E&M at Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris.