NATO has awarded Pratt & Whitney an $18-million contract to ensure the continued operation of the alliance’s E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. The agreement, lasting three years with an option for a two-year extension, covers the maintenance of the TF33 turbofan engines that power the fleet. The contract scope includes spare parts forecasting, material procurement, and technical assistance.
The sustainment work will be distributed across several sites, including Germany, depots in Turkey and Greece, and Pratt & Whitney’s own facility in East Hartford, Connecticut. NATO currently flies 14 E-3A Sentry aircraft from Geilenkirchen Air Base in Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia region.
Based on the Boeing 707 platform, the E-3 has served as NATO’s cornerstone airborne early warning and control platform since the early 1980s. These aircraft support critical missions such as surveillance, command, and battle management across Europe and other regions. NATO plans to keep the AWACS in service until at least 2035, at which point they will be gradually replaced by next-generation systems like the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail.
Each E-3 is fitted with four Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-100A low-bypass turbofan engines, a design introduced in the late 1950s. Despite their age, these engines deliver speeds up to 530 miles per hour, altitudes of 40,000 feet, and ranges of 4,000 nautical miles. With aerial refueling, the E-3’s endurance extends far beyond its baseline eight-hour flight duration. The TF33 remains in use on other legacy aircraft, including the U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress and RC-135 reconnaissance platforms, highlighting its long-standing durability.
