ACS Failure Fallout: Boeing to Offer SIGINT 737

737 SIGINT Concept(click to view full) DID has covered the Aerial Common Sensor spy-plane program to replace the USAF’s RC-12 Guardrails and RC-7 Crazy Hawks, and the Navy’s EP-3 Aries II. From explaining the program and its forced change of aircraft, to the selection of Britain’s ASTOR Sentinel R1 as a template, to the contract’s cancellation and the program’s possible shutdown. DID’s original article even noted the Boeing 737 as a potential high-end option in this space that could stress commonality with the USA’s C-40 Clipper transports and T-43 navigation trainers, and the US Navy’s future P-8A Maritime Multi-mission Aircraft. It appears that Boeing has come to similar conclusions. They’ve just announced plans for a new 737 signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft that can be used for airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and also advanced net-centric communications. P-8A with wing change(click to view full) The aircraft would be a variant of its 737-based P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft under development for the U.S. Navy. The firm also touts the plane’s “built-in growth capacity” – which was, of course, the fatal problem with Lockheed and Northrop-Grumman’s platform choices. Indeed, Boeing has said they can increase the mission crew capacity and associated equipment to […]