TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s E-9A Program Office at Tinker Air Force Base recently completed a strip and paint of the E-9A Widget aircraft.
The effort marks an achievement in maintaining the mission readiness and longevity of this specialized surveillance platform used in range safety operations at the Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range in Florida.
“This project was a high-visibility effort that required close coordination and execution,” said Aaron Thomas, PO representative. “Thanks to the teamwork across our contractor partners and the government support offices, the aircraft returned to the mission fully prepared and better than ever.”
The E-9A is a twin turboprop aircraft tasked with ensuring civilian vessels are clear of missile test zones during live-fire exercises. It provides real-time surveillance and telemetry data to range safety officers at Tyndall AFB, Florida, making its operational reliability a top priority.
The Program Office at Tinker led a multi-contractor effort that included a full aircraft repaint—the first in over a decade while seamlessly integrating all aircraft upgrades. Additionally, the government was able to take advantage of streamlining aircraft maintenance procedures for the removal and installation of critical mission components.
All work was completed on schedule and under budget, preserving operational timelines and maintaining aircraft performance and crew safety.
The successful completion of the E-9A strip and paint not only maintains the aircraft’s service life but also ensures the Air Force’s ability to conduct safe and effective weapons testing over open waters.
The mission of the E-9A Program Office is to develop, deliver and sustain integrated capabilities for its domestic and foreign partners to support flying training operations, test support and allied security.