Editing Boeing E-3 Sentry (section)

===Upgrades===
[[File:E-3 Sentry system operator of NATO.jpg|thumb|The command & comms consoles.|alt=Inside military aircraft. Two personnel manning communications consoles with wide displays.]]

Between 1987 and 2001, USAF E-3s were upgraded under the "Block 30/35 Modification Program".<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 20, 1996 |title=$346 MILLION REQUESTED FOR AWACS RSIP, BLOCK 30-35 AND EXTEND SENTRY |url=https://insidedefense.com/inside-missile-defense/346-million-requested-awacs-rsip-block-30-35-and-extend-sentry |access-date=November 17, 2020 |website=Inside Defense}}</ref> Enhancements included:
*The installation of ESM and an electronic surveillance capability, for both active and passive means of detection. 
*Installation of the Class 2H [[Joint Tactical Information Distribution System]] (JTIDS), which provides rapid and secure communication for transmitting information, including target positions and identification data, to other friendly platforms. This upgraded system allowed the [[Link 16]] military tactical data link capability to be added as part of the Block 30/35 upgrade. Prior versions of the E-3 (NATO/US Standard and 20/25) had the Class 1 (Hughes) JTIDS system which was not [[Link 16]] capable.
*[[Global Positioning System]] (GPS) capability was added. 
*Onboard computers and software were overhauled to accommodate the JTIDS Class 2H, [[Link 16]], the new ESM systems and to allow for future enhancements.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

====RSIP====
The Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP) was a joint US/NATO development program.<ref name=USAF1/> RSIP enhances the operational capability of the E-3 radars' [[electronic countermeasures]], and improves the system's reliability, maintainability, and availability.<ref name=USAF1/> Essentially, this program replaced the older [[transistor-transistor logic]] (TTL) and [[emitter-coupled logic]] (MECL) electronic components, long-since out of production, with off-the-shelf [[computer]]s that utilised a [[High-level programming language]] instead of [[assembly language]]. Significant improvement came from adding [[pulse compression]] to the pulse-Doppler mode.<ref name=Northrop1/> These hardware and software modifications improve the E-3 radars' performance, providing enhanced detection with an emphasis towards low [[radar cross-section]] (RCS) targets.<ref name=USAF1/>

The RAF had also joined the USAF in adding RSIP to upgrade the E-3's radars. The retrofitting of the E-3 squadrons was completed in December 2000. Along with the RSIP upgrade was installation of the Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems which improved positioning accuracy. In 2002, Boeing was awarded a contract to add RSIP to the small French AWACS squadron. Installation was completed in 2006.<ref name=USAF1/><ref name=Boeing3>{{cite web |url=http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/ic/awacs/e3svcww/ukfr.html |title=AWACS For United Kingdom and France |access-date=26 May 2007 |publisher=Boeing |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227082213/http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/ic/awacs/e3svcww/ukfr.html |archive-date=27 February 2007}}</ref> Saudi Arabia began RSIP upgrades in 2013; the first aircraft being upgraded by Boeing in Seattle with the four remaining aircraft upgraded in Riyadh between 2014 and 2016.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

====NATO Mid Term Program====
Between 2000 and 2008 NATO upgraded its E-3s to ''Mid Term Program'' (MTP) standard. This involved technical upgrades and a total multi-sensor-systems integration<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 April 2022 |title=NATO Seeks Industry Input for a Successor to its E-3A Sentry AWACS |url=https://www.overtdefense.com/2022/04/12/nato-seeks-industry-input-for-a-successor-to-its-e-3a-sentry-awacs/ |access-date=26 June 2022 |website=Overt Defense |language=en-CA |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413100027/https://www.overtdefense.com/2022/04/12/nato-seeks-industry-input-for-a-successor-to-its-e-3a-sentry-awacs/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====DRAGON====
In 2009, the USAF, in cooperation with NATO, entered into a major flight deck avionics modernization program in order to maintain compliance with worldwide airspace mandates. The program, called DRAGON (for DMS Replacement of Avionics for Global Operation and Navigation), was awarded to Boeing and [[Rockwell Collins]] in 2010. Drawing on their Flight2 [[flight management system]] (FMS), almost all the avionics were replaced with more modern digital equipment from Rockwell Collins. Main upgrades include a Digital Audio Distribution System, Mode-5/[[Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast|ADS-B]] transponder, [[Inmarsat]] and VDL datalinks, and a [[terrain awareness and warning system]] (TAWS). The centerpiece flight deck hardware consists of five 6x8 color graphics displays and two color CDUs. DRAGON laid the foundation for subsequent upgrades including GPS M-Code, Iridium ATC, and Autopilot.  USAF DRAGON Production began in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/497312/dragon-program-to-improve-aging-e-3/|title=DRAGON program to improve aging E-3|website=af.mil|date=15 September 2014 |access-date=14 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424235937/http://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/497312/dragon-program-to-improve-aging-e-3/|archive-date=24 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

====USAF Block 40/45====
In 2014 the USAF began upgrading block 30/35 E-3B/Cs into block 40/45 E-3Gs. This upgrade replaces the main flight computer with a [[Red Hat Linux]]-based system, as well as replacing the [[DOS operating system|DOS]] 2.0-like operating system with a [[Windows 95]]-like system on the operator workstations.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Chen|first=Ernie|date=1 October 2017|title=The Future of AWACS: Technological Advancement or Technological Relic|url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD1054654|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204185357/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD1054654|url-status=live|archive-date=4 December 2020|language=en|via=Defense Technical Information Center}}</ref> In 2016, a three-week long cybersecurity vulnerability test revealed that the 40/45 block and its supporting ground equipment were vulnerable to cyber threats, and were thus deemed "not survivable."<ref>{{cite web|date=December 2016|title=Director, Operational Test and Evaluation FY 2016 Annual Report|url=https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2016/other/2016DOTEAnnualReport.pdf?ver=2019-08-22-105134-547|access-date=26 November 2020|website=dote.osd.mil|pages=361–363|archive-date=24 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024133518/https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2016/other/2016DOTEAnnualReport.pdf?ver=2019-08-22-105134-547|url-status=live}}</ref> This caused a delay of approximately two years.<ref>{{cite web|title=E-3 AWACS Block 40/45 Pushed Back Two Years|url=http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/181578/e_3g-awacs-block-40%C2%A745-pushed-back-two-years.html|access-date=27 November 2020|website=www.defense-aerospace.com|archive-date=21 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021052910/http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/181578/e_3g-awacs-block-40%C2%A745-pushed-back-two-years.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Twenty-four E-3s are projected to complete this upgrade to 40/45 by the end of [[fiscal year]] 2020, while seven aircraft will be retired to save upgrade costs and harvest out-of-production components.<ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-e-3g-makes-middle-east-combat-debut-419318/ Boeing E-3G makes Middle East combat debut] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120174217/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-e-3g-makes-middle-east-combat-debut-419318/ |date=20 November 2015}} – Flightglobal.com, 19 November 2015</ref>

====NATO Final Lifetime Extension Program====
NATO intends to extend the operational status of its AWACS until 2035 by significantly upgrading fourteen aircraft in the ''Final Lifetime Extension Program'' (FLEP) between 2019 and 2026.<ref name="NATO summit Warsaw July 2016"/> Upgrades include the expansion of data capacity, expansion of bandwidth for satellite communications, new encryption equipment, new [[HAVE QUICK]] radios, upgraded mission computing software and new operator consoles. The supporting ground systems (mission training center and mission planning and evaluation system) will also be upgraded to the latest standard. NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Program Management Agency (NAPMA) is the preparing and executing authority for the FLEP. FLEP will be combined with the standard planned higher echelon technical maintenance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/raf-e-3d-sentry-aircraft-returns-to-the-uk-from-last-operational-mission/ |title=RAF E-3D Sentry aircraft returns to the UK from last operational mission |publisher=Royal Air Force |date=5 August 2021 |access-date=7 March 2023 |archive-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227182446/https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/raf-e-3d-sentry-aircraft-returns-to-the-uk-from-last-operational-mission// |url-status=live }}</ref>