The December 2023 SKYWATCH issue featured details about the Final Lifetime Extension Programme (FLEP), a major modernisation activity that will assure the operational capability of the NE-3A fleet until its planned retirement in 2035. With the recently announced acquisition of a fleet of E-7 aircraft, both programmes support NATO's long-term vision for an operationally, high-performance Airborne Early Warning System.  

Since the inception of the Combined Test Team (CTT) in September 2022, a lot has been accomplished getting the joint Force-NAPMA team prepared to conduct Final Lifetime Extension Program (FLEP) lab and aircraft testing. There is still work to go but due to the support from Force organizations, from Flight Medicine through Infrastructure, the CTT is prepared to begin formal FLEP test activity in 2024.  

Last month the Ground Test Station, referred to as GTS, was delivered from the NCIA facilities at JFC Brunssum to the NATO E-3A Air Base in Geilenkirchen. In the next months the GTS will undergo the final build-up steps prior to site acceptance test. Engineering vetting for the use is achieved via the NAPMA Chief Engineer OSS&E process complemented by an Approval for Test (AfT).  

Several members of the NE-3A Chief Engineer’s Office (CE) had a first-hand look at on-going modifications to N-1, the first jet to be equipped with Final Lifetime Extension Programme (FLEP) capabilities, 15-17 February 2023 at the Leonardo facility in Tessera, Italy.  

We all know that the NE-3A Final Lifetime Extension Programme (FLEP) will bring new functionalities and updates to the aircraft.
But there is much more to FLEP!
Several new and improved ground systems will be introduced. These modernization areas will improve mission planning, mission system testing, software configuration/maintenance and will provide a realistic mission environment to provide essential mission crew training on the ground.  

Most of you know that the NATO E-3A Community has embarked on a significant, culminating upgrade to the current AWACS capability: the Final Lifetime Extension Programme, known as “FLEP”. This upgrade primarily focuses on Mission System modernisation ensuring the E-3A’s operational relevance through enhanced interoperability.

What you may not know is the that at the forefront of FLEP is a joint team of NAEW&C Force and NAPMA personnel called the Combined Test Team or CTT.  

Look… up into the sky… it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s… the NAPMO Board of Directors… the B-O-D!
Ok, the B-O-D is not Superman, but for over 40 years the BOD has governed one of the most successful international programmes in history, the world’s first multi-national, fully integrated Air Force – “NATO’s Air Force.” The NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Programme Management Organization (NAPMO) Board of Directors has authority over the management and governance of the NATO AEW&C Programme, particularly in the technical, initial support, financial and contractual areas.  

The Final Lifetime Extension Programme, also referred to as “FLEP”, for NATO’s E-3A fleet is well underway. Just a few months ago in April, N-1 was flown to the Depot Level Maintenance facility at Leonardo in Tessera, Italy. To date, most of the legacy equipment has been removed from the aircraft to allow for the installation of new and modified replacements. But there is so much more happening behind the scenes that is not immediately obvious.  

The Flight Mission Software Suite (FMSS) Black Label 5.0 (BL5.0) software is about to be delivered after an intensive testing period. This period was divided into numerous contractor laboratory tests in the USA, and Ground & Flight tests in Germany.  

The NE-3A Final Lifetime Extension Programme (FLEP) is on a fixed budget…inflation is notorious for eroding all things fixed. Will FLEP suffer big? Interestingly, the short answer is no. But why not?  

The ‘long climb’ towards the induction of the first Final Lifetime Extension Programme (FLEP) aircraft (N-1) for modification has come to a successful conclusion. On 11 April, the N-1 aircraft departed MOB Geilenkirchen for the Leonardo modification facility in Tessera, Italy.  

This year is the 40th anniversary of the activation of the E-3A Component. Wow! It is amazing to still have the NE-3A as a fully capable weapon system, even though more than four decades have passed since the beginning of this thrilling adventure.  

The 106th meeting of the NATO Airborne Management Organisation (NAPMO) Board of Directors (BOD) was conducted virtually from 7-8 December 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.