Awacs planes show military divorce between US and EU

The United States is barely hiding its loss of interest in the future of NATO, as demonstrated again last week by the unprecedented absence of North American Secretary of State Marco Rubio from a regular meeting of allied foreign ministers. In other times, this gradual disconnection would have been considered an element of little importance, but in the current circumstances, with the real threat of Russian aggression, it takes on particular importance for Europeans.

Although not all countries participate in this program, NATO’s fleet of 14 Boeing E-3As is the only physical military element owned by NATO. All the aircraft are registered in Luxembourg because it is a country which in 1982, when the first was acquired, did not have its own aviation. The planes operate from the NATO base in Geilenkirchen, in Germany, located on the same border as the Netherlands, and constitute the alliance’s primary early warning and combat management capability.

The system is essential for monitoring airspace along NATO’s eastern flank, for directing complex air operations and at the same time has been used as a symbolic element of anti-terrorism protection during special events in member countries.

Three years ago, the Alliance decided to launch the program to replace the Boeing E-3As, which will be decommissioned in 2035. The simplest option was to replace them with an initial fleet of six Boeing E-7 Wedgetailsbased on those designed for the Australian Air Force and in service for a decade.

However, the announcement that the United States was no longer interested in renewing the Alliance’s Awacs program was a cold shower for the rest of the allies, who must withdraw from this program due to the increased costs that the absence of NATO’s main partner would bring.

The Dutch Ministry of Defense, on behalf of the Atlantic Alliance, announced the cancellation of the acquisition because this program would have lost its “strategic and financial basis” if the United States did not participate and, at the same time, “demonstrates the need to invest in the European military industry.”

According to North American sources, the reasons why the Pentagon is no longer interested in this system are linked to the development of other technologies to achieve the same results and, what’s more, they are not as vulnerable as the E-7.

Experts say it is more practical for the United States to use its own systems, based on its satellite and even drone capabilities, than to share NATO’s fleet of Awacs with European allies. The Pentagon could buy more North American devices for private use Grumman E-2 that you already use like Awacs.

Own technology

If the Awacs cease to be an active ally, it is obvious that the Europeans will have to rely on their own technology. For now, Francewhich is not part of the NATO program, is the only one with the Grumman E-2 due to its ability to operate from an aircraft carrier, and also has its own E-3A.

He United Kingdomwhich also does not participate in the current NATO program, has also purchased its own E-7. Poland, a member of the Alliance’s collective system, has taken the lead and has already firmly requested an E-7.

Airbus manufactured a unit based on the House C295 AEWbut even Spain did not wish to buy it. The only option available at the moment would therefore be the new Global Eye made by the swedes saabwho use the Canadian plane as a base Bombardier Global 6000 long range.

There are currently programs funded by the European Union precisely to encourage purchases of Community equipment and which could help many countries make a decision. The problem is that the most practical would be to share these military assets again within NATO or to do so with one’s back on the United States, which could be misinterpreted by Washington. Or wait until a future tenant of the White House can change his mind.