Airborne Warning and Control System Block 40/45 Upgrade
Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP)
Program facts
- Program number
- 277
- Short name
- AWACS Blk 40/45 Upgrade
- Acquisition pathway
- Major Capability Acquisition (MCA)
- Acquisition category
- ACAT IC
- Acquisition status
- Full operational capability or full deployment (FOC/FD)
- Lead component
-
Air Force
Department of Defense
- Contract awards
- 141
- Contract obligations
- $2,170,984,788 Since fiscal year 2015
- More information
Program details come from the Department of Defense's acquisition program list. Contract figures come from SAM.gov (formerly FPDS).
Contract obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Obligated |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $32,095,466 |
| FY2025 | $105,949,785 |
| FY2024 | $55,123,628 |
| FY2023 | $104,246,270 |
| FY2022 | $453,227,074 |
| FY2021 | $94,022,205 |
| FY2020 | $104,155,749 |
| FY2019 | $77,892,624 |
| FY2018 | $482,053,610 |
| FY2017 | $141,479,935 |
Top contractors by obligations
| Rank | Contractor | Obligated | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Boeing Company | $1,591,668,973 | |
| 2 | The Boeing Company | $336,970,288 | |
| 3 | Georgia TECH Applied Research Corp | $127,946,616 | |
| 4 | Pole / Zero LLC | $26,906,860 | |
| 5 | Rockwell Collins, Inc. | $20,501,861 | |
| 6 | Photonis Defense Inc. | $17,208,328 | |
| 7 | Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation | $12,772,887 | |
| 8 | Tuba Group, Inc. | $11,775,153 | |
| 9 | Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation | $10,052,125 | |
| 10 | Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation | $2,702,898 |
10 of 34 contractors listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Contract awards
Show 40 more
Latest 50 of 141 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
About this program
The Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) Block 40/45 Upgrade is a Major Defense Acquisition Program under the Major Capability Acquisition pathway managed by the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. This comprehensive modernization effort replaces legacy mission computers and operator consoles on the E-3 AWACS aircraft with new open-system architecture and enhanced computing capabilities. The program aims to significantly improve data processing power, automate previously manual workloads, and provide operators with modernized user interfaces for conducting airborne early warning, battle management, and command and control missions.
Contract awards under this program typically range from small purchases of under $100,000 for commercial off-the-shelf software to major system integration efforts exceeding $300 million with multi-year performance periods. The Boeing Company serves as the primary systems integrator, receiving several large cost-plus-fixed-fee and fixed-price-incentive contracts for production, installation, and contractor support. Other significant prime contractors include Georgia Tech Applied Research Corporation for communications upgrades, Photonis Defense Inc. for microwave power modules, and Rockwell Collins for interim contractor support. Most work is performed at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and various Air Force bases. While some smaller contracts utilize total small business set-asides, the majority of significant awards are unrestricted. The Department of the Air Force Electronic Systems Center and Naval Air Systems Command are the primary contracting activities, with contracts supporting both domestic AWACS modernization and foreign military sales to allies including Japan and Saudi Arabia.
Quick answers
What is AWACS Blk 40/45 Upgrade?
Airborne Warning and Control System Block 40/45 Upgrade (AWACS Blk 40/45 Upgrade) is a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) led by the Air Force. It follows the Major Capability Acquisition (MCA) pathway and is ACAT IC. Its acquisition status is full operational capability or full deployment (FOC/FD).
How much has AWACS Blk 40/45 Upgrade obligated on contracts?
141 contract awards are coded to AWACS Blk 40/45 Upgrade, and their actions have obligated $2,170,984,788 since fiscal year 2015.
Who are the top contractors on AWACS Blk 40/45 Upgrade?
The contractors obligated the most on AWACS Blk 40/45 Upgrade contracts are The Boeing Company ($1,928,639,260 across 2 registrations), Georgia TECH Applied Research Corp ($127,946,616) and Pole / Zero LLC ($26,906,860).
How much did AWACS Blk 40/45 Upgrade obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Contracts coded to AWACS Blk 40/45 Upgrade obligated $105,949,785 in fiscal year 2025.
What is the latest contract award for AWACS Blk 40/45 Upgrade?
The latest contract award coded to AWACS Blk 40/45 Upgrade is N6893626F5292, awarded to Photonis Defense Inc. on June 30, 2026.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
- Every contract award coded to this program
- Funding analysis by contractor, agency, place of performance and set-aside
- Alerts for new awards
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