NATO Member Rejoins AWACS Acquisition: Systems Approach Facilitates Policy Decision

In December, 1978, NATO Defense Ministers undertook to acquire the $1,826 million Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft to detect low-flying aircraft. In November, 1979, one Member Country decided not to participate in the acquisition. Using the systems approach, the consequent re-scoping implications were formulated and transmitted to NATO “to stimulate their thinking” prior to the spring, 1980 meeting of the board of directors. The member-country agreed by summer, 1980 in principle to participate in the acquisition and announced full participation on May 7, 1981.