Puget Sound Business Journal August 18, 2003
Another military use for 767 emerges
The U.S. Air Force is getting a new extended-range 767-400 from The Boeing Co. to convert into a test-bed that could lead to several Air Force uses for the plane, which was originally designed for commercial roles.
A $126 million contract will purchase the new plane, built at Boeing's Everett facility, and pay for the conversion to what the Air Force has designated an E-10A. Northrop Grumman, the primary contractor on the project, will perform the conversion at its facility in Lake Charles, La., beginning in December 2005.
The Air Force initially plans to use the E-10A for air and ground surveillance and targeting; rather than firing weapons at enemy targets in the air and on the ground, the E-10A would help fighters and bombers more accurately and quickly find their targets.
The single-plane delivery is for testing purposes, and would not be available for the military's use until 2012 at the earliest, according to GlobalSecurity.org, a nonprofit policy research organization in Arlington, Va., that follows defense matters.
The Air Force's long-term plan calls for developing about 60 767-based planes that could replace those currently filling a variety of military roles, including AWACS, reconnaissance and surveillance planes, GlobalSecurity says. Early projections had put the cost to the Air Force at about $58 billion to develop, buy and support the planes. But that figure was based on using the smaller, less expensive 767-200ER aircraft instead of the 767-400ER, which is now planned, the nonprofit said. The cost figure has not yet been updated.
The Japanese air force has taken delivery of four AWACS planes that use the 767 as their base. The U.S. Air Force's older AWACS fleet is built on the Boeing 707 commercial plane, which is no longer being built.
Military uses are propping up the ailing 767 line, which has seen orders from airlines slow to a trickle in the protracted commercial aviation slump. Earlier this month Everett delivered the first 767 for conversion into a tanker/transport for the Italian air force. Conversion of an additional four 767s is slated for Japan's armed services, as well as another 100 for the U.S. Air Force.
That controversial, $16 billion lease plan is still awaiting approval from the last of four congressional committees to review the program. The Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to take up its review of the lease program this fall.
© Copyright 2003, American City Business Journals Inc.
