The deal signed in Brisbane with officials of US aircraft maker Boeing increased from four to six the number of Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWC) aircraft Australia will acquire over the next four years.

Defense Minister Robert Hill said the surveillance aircraft -- modified Boeing 737s -- would provide Australia with "a state-of-the-art air and maritime surveillance capability".

"It will give us a new capability for airspace and maritime surveillance that the Australian Defence Force has never had before," Hill said.

Under the 3.4 billion dollar (2.4 billion US) project, four of the 737s will be modified at a newly constructed facility in Australia that Hill said would have flow-on commercial benefits.

"Since the 737 is an advanced, new generation aircraft, the modification work will bring cutting edge technologies into Australia, with a significant up-skilling of the workforce," Hill said.

The first AEWC is scheduled for delivery in late 2005 and the last aircraft should be completed by 2008, he said.

WAR.WIRE