Hava Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı’mızın ihtiyaçları doğrultusunda, Savunma Sanayii Müsteşarlığı tarafından yürütülmekte olan Barış Kartalı Projesi kapsamında ilk HİK Uçağı, başlangıç teslimatı için, TUSAŞ (Akıncı/Ankara) tesislerinden konuşlanacağı birlik olarak belirlenen 3’üncü Ana Jet Üs Komutanlığı (Konya)na intikal etmek üzere havalanmış bulunmaktadır.
Projede ana yüklenici Boeing firması olup, uçak ve sistemlerin tasarım, üretim, test ve bakım idame faaliyetlerinde HAVELSAN, TUSAŞ, MİKES, ASELSAN ve Türk Hava Yolları gibi birçok yerli firma görev almaktadır.
Barış Kartalı HİK sistemi gerçekleştirilecek birlik kabul kontrollerinin ardından
21 Şubat 2014 tarihinde 3’üncü Ana Jet Üs Komutanlığı (Konya)nda düzenlenecek tören ile Hava Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı envanterine alınacaktır.
The Boeing 737 AEW&C is a twin-engine airborne early warning and control aircraft. It is lighter than the 707-based Boeing E-3 Sentry, and mounts a fixed, electronically scanned radar antenna instead of a rotating one. It was designed for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) under “Project Wedgetail” and designated E-7A Wedgetail. The 737 AEW&C has also been selected by the Turkish Air Force (under “Project Peace Eagle”, Turkish: Barış Kartalı) and the Republic of Korea Air Force (“Project Peace Eye”, Korean: “피스 아이”), and has been proposed to Italy and the United Arab Emirates.
Four Boeing 737 AEW&C Peace Eagle aircraft, along with ground support systems were ordered by the Turkish Air Force, with an option for two more. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is the primary subcontractor for the Peace Eagle parts production, aircraft modification, assembly and tests. Another Turkish subcontractor, Havelsan, is responsible for system analysis and software support besides the delivery of Ground Support Segment which will be located in Konya, Turkey. HAVELSAN of Turkey is also the only foreign company licensed by the U.S. Government to receive critical source codes.
Peace Eagle 1 is modified and tested by the Boeing Integrated Defense Systems in Seattle, Washington, USA. Peace Eagle 2, 3 and 4 are modified and tested at the facilities of TAI in Ankara, Turkey, with the participation of Boeing and a number of Turkish companies.