Turkey has purchased four AWACS (E-7T Peace Eagle) aircraft for early warning missions. Peace Eagle Project incorporates C4ISR solutions. Peace Eagle system is the command control centre in the skies. It performs activities such as air operations management, decision making, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance technologies.
Boeing's 737 passenger plane has been converted for AWACS use. The significant modification was the addition of a radar antenna on the top of the aircraft. Turkish Aerospace was involved in the modification procedure. HAVELSAN takes part in the Project by transferring command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems experiences to develop mission system software in the airborne segment and design, develop, and deliver the ground support segment. HAVELSAN integrated Communication Control Interface, ESM Control Interface, Mission Navigation and Avionics control interfaces, Weapons Management, Processing formatted messages such as ATO / ACO into the AEW&C system for the Mission Computing Subsystem (MCS).
The technology was
first made available about eight years ago. While the AWACS aircraft performs
early warning missions in and around Turkey, the air forces have begun
feasibility studies to procure next-generation aircraft with indigenous
technologies.
In reality, the AWACS
is a flying radar system. Because the Earth is spherical, the horizon is the
limit for practical radar usage. However, radar in the air can reach greater
distances, known as Line of Sight (LoS). The farther the LoS reaches, the
earlier the radar warns of a potential threat.
Turkey is currently
working on AESA Radar, which provides to track many aerial and ground targets
simultaneously.
A MESA radar produced
by the US company Northrop Grumman is used in E-7T Peace Eagle aircraft. This
MESA radar, which provides 360 degrees scanning, can be used operationally in
all weather conditions. It has a range of more than 400 km at an altitude of
10,000 meters. E-7Ts can theoretically detect 1500 targets simultaneously.
Technical
Specifications of Peace Eagle:
Detection with Radar
System with 200+ nmi radius capability, Track identification with 300 nmi
radius IFF system, Electronic intelligence and identification with Electronic
Support Measures (ESM) system, Real-time communication with HF, V/UHF, UHF,
SATCOM Radios and Link-11, Link-16/IJMS Tactical Data Links, Creating a joint
aerial image by combining the information received from the cross told data via
the tactical data links and fusing onboard sensor data from the Radar / IFF and
ESM tracks.
AEW&C aircraft
consists of the following sub-systems:
Radar / IFF, Electronic
Support Measures (ESM), Communication and Data Link (CDL), Mission Navigation, Mission
Avionics, Mission Computer,
