HAVELSAN’s Role in Peace Eagle: Software and Ground Support

What is HAVELSAN’s role in Peace Eagle? The Turkish Air Force’s E-7T Peace Eagle airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft serve as a command centre in the sky. On the unseen side of this fleet stands HAVELSAN: the company both took part in developing the mission software in the air segment and designed, manufactured and delivered the Ground Support Segment. This article covers HAVELSAN’s share in the project, based on official sources.

For the E-7 family’s wider trajectory, see our report on the US Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail procurement.

Mission software: the brain of the flying command centre

The layer that processes the data flowing from the E-7T’s radar and sensors, builds the air picture and lays it before the weapons controllers is the mission computer software. Drawing on its experience in command and control, electronic intelligence and detection-identification systems, HAVELSAN took responsibility for mission computer software development, test development and support activities.

The Ground Support Segment

HAVELSAN’s second major share in the project is the design, manufacture and delivery of the Ground Support Segment. This segment covers ground-systems software development, technician training and systems-engineering support. While the aircraft fly their missions, the maintenance, training and software-update infrastructure runs on the ground through this segment.

The Software Support Centre: a fifth aircraft on the ground

At the Software Support Centre (SSC), mission software updates and tests, configuration tracking and the production of new versions are carried out. The centre’s “live communication” capability allows it to use V/UHF, HF, SATCOM and Link-16 channels, letting the SSC operate in test and integration activities virtually as a fifth AEW&C aircraft on the ground. Considering that Türkiye’s inventory holds four E-7Ts, this capability makes software validation possible without flying the fleet.

Domestic industry in logistics support

In the process covering logistics support services for the mission and ground systems, TUSAŞ, HAVELSAN and Boeing serve as subcontractors. The fleet’s sustainment is thus carried out largely through domestic industry.

E-7T Peace Eagle airborne early warning and control aircraft — The E-7T fleet’s mission software and ground support bear HAVELSAN’s signature. Source: Turkish Air Force

Item	Detail
Platform	E-7T Peace Eagle (Boeing 737 AEW&C), 4 aircraft
Air segment	Mission computer software development, test and support
Ground segment	Ground Support Segment design + manufacture + delivery
SSC	Software updates, tests, configuration, new versions
Live communication	V/UHF, HF, SATCOM, Link-16 — a “fifth aircraft on the ground”
Logistics	TUSAŞ + HAVELSAN + Boeing as subcontractors

Frequently asked questions

What did HAVELSAN do in Peace Eagle?

It took part in developing the air segment’s mission software and designed, manufactured and delivered the Ground Support Segment.

What does the Software Support Centre do?

Mission software updates, tests, configuration tracking and new-version production are carried out at the SSC.

What does “a fifth aircraft on the ground” mean?

Thanks to its live communication capability, the SSC can be used in tests and integration like a fifth AEW&C aircraft over V/UHF, HF, SATCOM and Link-16.