The prime contract, which was signed between the Boeing Company and the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) on 4 June 2002, for the acquisition of four B737-700 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Aircraft, became effective on 23 July 2003. Under the contract, a total of four (+2 optional) AEW&C Aircraft and one Ground Support System were procured from the Boeing Company.

Within the framework of the program, an agreement regarding “Structural Modification, Systems Installation, Control, Test and Delivery” activities was signed between the Boeing Company and the sub contractor TAI in January 2004.

Under the program, in which the modification activities of the first aircraft are carried out at Boeing-Seattle, the remaining three aircraft are modified at TAI’s facilities, under the leadership of TAI team, trained on the first aircraft at Boeing-Seattle. Modification activities of three aircraft are almost over and test activities are being performed.

In addition to modification and test activities, the ground and flight function tests, performance flight tests as well as periodic, planned and unplanned maintenance of changed and/or additional systems and the sub-systems will be realized by TAI.

Besides TAI, Havelsan, Havelsan Teknoloji Radar, MIKES and Turkish Airlines (THY) will also take part in the program as subcontractors of Boeing.