The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) will receive the first of four Boeing 737 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft in July.
An official at the Defense Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) said the first 737 AEW&C was in development, test and evaluation after its flight tests were completed last June.
“Type test and evaluation is scheduled to begin in March before a Korean operational utility demonstration slated for May,” he added.
South Korea signed a $1.6bn contract with Boeing IDS in November 2006, for four 737 AEW&C Peace Eye aircraft by 2012.
The Peace Eye systems include Northrop Grumman’s multimode electronically scanned array (MESA) radar, an identification friend or foe (IFF) system, electronic support and communications measures, and electronic warning and self-protection system, reports defensenews.com.