National Sep. 29, 2013 – 03:00PM JST ( )
WASHINGTON —
The Pentagon has notified the U.S. Congress of a proposed contract with Japan worth nearly $ 1 billion to upgrade the country’s early warning radar aircraft.
The planned $ 950 million deal would modernize Japan’s fleet of four Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) planes, bolstering electronic systems used to identify other aircraft and providing new cryptographic computers, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.
“The proposed sale will provide Japan with an upgraded AWACS command and control capability” and “allow Japan’s AWACS fleet to be more compatible with the U.S. Air Force AWACS fleet baseline,” according to an agency statement.
Manufactured by aerospace giant Boeing and flown by NATO countries and other U.S. allies, AWACS carry a rotating radar antenna mounted on the back of the plane, using systems to track other aircraft or enemy air defenses at long distances.
The Pentagon’s announcement came before Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry travel to Tokyo this week for security talks with their Japanese counterparts.
(C) 2013 AFP
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