Boeing Delivered Upgraded French AWACS aircraft airborne warning and control system.

The Mid-Life Upgrade – the largest set of modifications to AWACS aircraft for France – will provide the crew with more actionable information and better situational awareness and increase mission effectiveness and efficiencies.

“The focus, commitment and hard work among Boeing, Air France Industries and French and U.S. government teams were key in achieving this milestone on schedule,” said Steve Swanz, French AWACS program manager for Boeing.

Delivery followed ground and flight tests at Avord Air Force Base and qualification by France’s Direction Générale de l’Armement.

“The French Mid-Life Upgrade program is a model for enhancing intelligence and surveillance capability within the armed forces. This program also demonstrates Boeing’s enduring commitment in providing the French Air Force with a superior air battle management capability,” said Yves Galland, president of Boeing France.

Modifications to the other three French AWACS aircraft are scheduled for completion by the third quarter of 2016.

AWACS is an airborne warning and control system, or AWACS, aircraft with an integrated command and control battle management, or C2BM, surveillance, target detection, and tracking platform. The aircraft provides an accurate, real-time picture of the battlespace to the Joint Air Operations Center. AWACS provides situational awareness of friendly, neutral and hostile activity, command and control of an area of responsibility, battle management of theater forces, all-altitude and all-weather surveillance of the battle space, and early warning of enemy actions during joint, allied, and coalition operations.