SEATTLE, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Boeing delivered the first 14 E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft with cockpit upgrades for NATO's fleet.

The upgrades included five full-color glass displays, which the company says afford pilots and crew members customizable engine, navigation, and radar data. Boeing also performed avionics enhancements, bringing the aircraft up-to-date with current air traffic control and navigation requirements.


Boeing officials say the changes allow for smaller crew sizes, allowing the international alliance to perform their missions more effectively and at a lower cost.

"These improvements allow the removal of airspace restrictions, which saves NATO flight crews time and fuel and supplies operators with easier access to the information they need," program manager Wendy Atkinson said in a press release.

The E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System, or AWACS, is an aircraft designed for battle management in addition to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. The plane provides real-time pictures of the battlespace to enhance situational awareness. In addition to NATO, Boeing's customers for the platform include the U.S. Air Force, the U.K. Royal Air Force, and the Royal Saudi Air Force.