NATO's eye in the SKY
The NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control (NAEW&C) Programme is often cited as one of the most successful collaborative ventures ever undertaken by the Alliance. The fleet of 16 NE-3A aircraft represents the world’s first multi-national, fully integrated Air Force, and is one of the few military assets that is actually owned and operated by NATO.

NAPMO Board of Directors
The NAEW&C Programme Management Organization Board of Directors (NAPMO BOD) has authority over the management and governance of the Programme, particularly in the technical, initial support, financial and contractual areas. The BOD consists of one member from each participating Nation.

NAPMA
As NAPMO executive agent, the NAEW&C Progamme Management Agency (NAPMA) is accountable to the Board of Directors for planning and coordinating acquisition strategy, managing projects associated with modernisation of the NE-3A fleet, providing sustainment support services, and overseeing the technical aspects of the NAEW&C airworthiness programme.

Final Lifetime Extention Programme (FLEP)
The objective of the 6th Amendment Futures Modernisation Project is to plan, acquire, and deliver integrated technical solutions supporting the NAEW&C Force Command’s identified requirements. In order to maintain the NE-3A’s operational relevance and sustainability through 2035 the following drivers have been identified for the Final Lifetime Extension Program (FLEP). Those drivers are the NAC noted requirements for operational capabilities, Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) and obsolescence and new mandates. This includes C2 data exchange requirements and Joint Intelligences, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capabilities.

NAPMO / Brunssum Information
NAPMO Info & E-3A Skywatch
All information you need to know in printer friendly PDF format
NAPMA Multimedia
Multimedia
Various NAPMA images and video material from the NE-3A fleet
Newsroom
- NAPMA Signs Contract for FLEP Modernisation Programme
During a ceremony on 21 November 2019, Brig Gen Michael Gschossmann, NAPMA General Manager, and Mrs. Nancy R. Anderson, Vice President of Aircraft Modernization and Modification for the Boeing Company, unofficially signed a contract for the NATO E-3A’s Final Lifetime Extension Programme (FLEP). This event marked a special day in the history of the NATO E-3A fleet and reconfirmed the well-established relationship between NAPMA and Boeing.
- NAPMA celebrates its 40th anniversary
From its home location in Brunssum, NLD, the NATO AEW&C Programme Management Agency (NAPMA) has been continuously ensuring that the fleet of NATO E-3A aircraft can meet the Alliance’s operational requirements with its advanced command and control and surveillance capabilities for 40 years.
- FUP PAR Completion on the Horizon
24 September 2019
NAPMA’s Follow-on Upgrade Programme is taking strides towards completion which is expected early next year. CNS/ATM has completed PAR and the Joint Retrofit with Mode 5/ EHS and Interim IP Comms/ AIS is over 75% complete. These FUP technology upgrades have allowed NATO to maintain the NATO E-3A status as the leader in cutting edge AEW&C technologies.
- Completion of CNS/ATM Programme
15 March 2019
During a ceremony held on 7 February 2019 to celebrate the completion of the Production and Retrofit phase of the CNS/ATM programme, NAPMA General Manager, Brigadier General Michael Gschossmann, and the NAEW&C Force Commander, Major General Jörg Lebert, expressed their appreciation to all personnel involved in this important project.
- Mode 5 / Enhanced Mode S – Mission Accomplished
6 December 2018
On 20 Nov 2018, NAPMA received a formal letter from a US Department of Defense authority for Mark XIIA Mode 5 (Level 1) and Mode S Integrated Platform Level certification for the NATO E-3A AWACS marking the successful completion of the Mode 5/EHS project’s Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) Phase.
- Visit to military ATM modernisation project shows SESAR deployment in Germany
21 December 2017 | By SESAR DEPLOYMENT MANAGER
The AWACS retrofit project falling under the funding framework of “Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for Transport was selected by INEA – the European Commission’s (EC) Innovation and Networks Executive Agency, and EC DG MOVE for an official visit hosted by Airbus on their facility in Manching, Germany.
- NATO E-3A Flight Training Device (FTD) Ready For Training and Transferred to NAEW&C Force Headquarters
18 August 2017
Important milestone in the Communication, Navigation, Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Programme was achieved on 18 August 2017, as the NE-3A FTD transfer took place at NE-3A Main Operating Base (MOB) GK, Ready For Training (RFT).
- NATO E-3A Full Flight Simulator (FFS) Powered Down and Transferred to Contractor --
Kicks-Off CNS/ATM Update Effort4 August 2017
Next milestone in the Communication, Navigation, Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Programme was achieved on 4 August 2017, as the power down of the NE-3A FFS took place at NE-3A Main Operating Base (MOB) GK thus allowing for major modifications to the flight simulators following the Flight Training Device (FTD).
- First CNS/ATM “Glass Cockpit” E-3A Delivered Kicks-Off CNS/ATM Update Effort
1 December 2016
Another milestone in the Communication, Navigation, Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) project was achieved on16 November 2016 when NATO E-3A aircraft #459 took off from Boeing Field, inSeattle, Washington, USA and landed the next day at the NATO E-3A Main Operating Base (MOB) in Geilenkirchen, Germany
- NATO E-3A Flight Training Device (FTD) Powered Down and Transferred to Contractor --
Kicks-Off CNS/ATM Update Effort8 September 2016
Another milestone in the Communication, Navigation, Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Programme was achieved on 2 September 2016 as the power down of the NE-3A FTD took place at NE-3A Main Operating Base (MOB) at Geilenkirchen, Germany, signaling the beginning of major modifications to the NE-3A Component’s flight simulators.
- NATO AWACS will continue to be modernised and extended in service until 2035
- NAPMA celebrates its 40th anniversary