NATO has announced plans to replace its fleet of ageing AWACS surveillance planes with a militarized version of the Boeing 737 commercial jet. These Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) jets, which have been in service since the 1980s, act as flying radar towers and have been crucial for NATO's collective defense. The new planes, known as Boeing E-7 A Wedgetail, will have improved capabilities and are expected to be more expensive than their predecessors.

With their rotating radar, these modified Boeing 737 jets can detect aircraft at a distance of more than 400 kilometers (250 miles). They are capable of monitoring an area of approximately 300,000 square kilometers (115,000 square miles) and can detect ground targets such as ships. NATO intends to purchase six of these new Wedgetail jets, with the contract set to be signed in 2024. The first jet is expected to be ready for operational duty by 2031. This investment in state-of-the-art technology demonstrates the strength of transatlantic defense cooperation, as NATO continues to adapt to a more unstable world, said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

While NATO did not specify why it chose to replace its fleet of 14 AWACS planes with only six Wedgetail jets, it stated that the new aircraft would have better capabilities. The United States, Britain, and Turkey either already operate the Wedgetail or have plans to do so. The AWACS fleet, based at Geilenkirchen airbase in Germany, has been extensively used for NATO surveillance missions along the alliance's eastern flank following Russia's attack on Ukraine. These planes have also supported NATO missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, as well as events such as the 2006 World Cup in Germany and summit meetings.

In a conflict, the AWACS planes not only provide a radar picture for allied fighter jets, ships, and control centers, but they can also direct NATO combat jets to their targets. These aircraft are staffed with multinational crews from 19 of the 31 allied nations and are among the few assets owned by NATO. The exact cost of the new jets has not been disclosed, but the deal is expected to be worth several billion euros. Production of the six Boeing E-7A Wedgetail aircraft is set to commence in the coming years to ensure NATO's surveillance capabilities remain up to date.