EADS Signs Teaming Agreements With Northrop Grumman, Pratt & Whitney and Seven Q Seven for Engine Modernization Of NATO's AWACS Fleet.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

MUNICH, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 5, 2001

EADS Military Aircraft / Dornier Flugzeugwerft (DFW) has signed teaming agreements with Northrop Grumman (Integrated Systems Sector), Pratt & Whitney (P&W), and Seven Q Seven Inc. (SQS) to jointly pursue a re-engining program for NATO's E-3A Airborne Early Warning And Control System (AWACS).

The re-engining requirement for the NATO AWACS fleet, consisting of 17 E-3A and three Trainer Cargo Aircraft (TCA), is currently in development by the Alliance's 13-nation Board of Directors through its executive agency NAPMA, which issued a Request for Information (RfI) in May 2001.

The team members are proposing the P&W JT8D-219 engine to replace the currently used P&W TF33 and JT3D-7 propulsion system. Under the term of the agreement, EADS as the prime contractor with total system performance responsibility will offer the P&W and SQS commercial off-the-shelf certified JT8D-219 package to NATO.

P&W (East Hartford) will manufacture and deliver the complete new engine. SQS (San Antonio) will be responsible for the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) certification of the entire propulsion package on the B707-300, which represents the platform for the E-3A AWACS.

Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems Sector (Dallas) will provide engineering support and conduct the military qualification of the re-engined AWACS aircraft. Engine replacement will be conducted at EADS Manching plant, where all German military maintenance, repair and overhaul activities are centered.

The P&W JT8D turbofan is the most widely used commercial jet engine currently in operation, with more than 12.000 engines installed. The JT8D-219 is the latest version of this family which meets or exceeds all ICAO limits for emissions and all future Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Stage Four noise limits.

In addition, on typical AWCS mission profiles the new engine will consume at least 10 per cent less fuel than the current ones.

Rudiger Sanitz, Vice President Support Programs and Member of the Executive Board EADS Military Aircraft as well as President DFW, said of the teaming agreement: "The formation of the U.S.-German team for the re-engining of NATO's AWACS fleet is an encouraging example for a mutually beneficial trans-atlantic two-way street. Our joint efforts are intended to ensure that the E-3A will continue to be an invaluable and viable surveillance asset for the Alliance well into the 21st century."