Boeing has been awarded a contract to modify four Japanese airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft on behalf of the Japan Air Defence Force.

The $35.6m contract is a fixed-price contract modification awarded by the US Aerial Air Surveillance Systems Division.

An AWACS system is a high altitude airborne radar system designed to detect friendly and hostile aircraft.

The system is used for defensive and offensive air operations, surveillance, command and control and battle management (C2BM) functions.

Work will be performed at the company’s facility in Kent, Washington, US.