"NATO Upgrades Surveillance Fleet with Modified Boeing 737, Retires AWACS Jets"

NATO plans to replace its aging fleet of AWACS surveillance planes, which have been in service since the 1980s, with a militarized version of the Boeing 737 commercial jet. The new aircraft, called the Boeing E-7 A Wedgetail, will have better capabilities and be more expensive than their predecessors. The contract is expected to be signed in 2024, with the first jet ready for operational duty by 2031. The AWACS planes have been crucial for NATO's collective defense, providing surveillance and control capabilities in conflicts and supporting missions in various regions. The decision to replace the fleet of 14 AWACS planes with only six Wedgetail jets was not specified, but the new aircraft will enhance NATO's surveillance capabilities in a more unstable world.