TUSAŞ has announced the maiden flight of the E-7T Peace Eagle AEW&C aircraft modernised with ASELSAN's ESM/ELINT systems. The modernisation carried out by ASELSAN replaced the Israeli EL/L-8382 system, and the maiden flight was made in June 2024, according to TUSAŞ magazine's 137th issue. Following the ESM/ELINT system localisation, the E-7T aircraft will additionally receive a more comprehensive modernisation.
E-7T is one of the backbones of Turkiye's situational awareness, with its long-range radar and onboard ESM/ELINT systems performing detection and providing information to all forces. The modernisation of ESM/ELINT capability with locally made systems is important, as well as the freedom of modifications and single libraries that can be formed without the risk of foreign observation.
E-7 is also used by the ROK (as Peace Eye) and Australia (as E-7A Wedgetail). The aircraft will serve as an interim replacement for the ageing E-3 Sentry during the AFSC family of systems development as the future NATO AEW&C platforms.
