Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS) aircraft (2024)

Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS)

posted by Jiri Wagner

The E-3 Sentry is an airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft that providesall-weather surveillance, command, control and communications needed by commanders of U.S.and NATO air defense forces. As proven in Desert Storm, it is the premier air battlecommand and control aircraft in the world today. The E-3 Sentry is a modified Boeing707/320 commercial airframe with a rotating radar dome.

The dome is 30 feet (9.1 meters) in diameter, six feet (1.8 meters) thick, and is held11 feet (3.3 meters) above the fuselage by two struts. It contains a radar subsystem thatpermits surveillance from the Earth's surface up into the stratosphere, over land orwater. The radar has a range of more than 200 miles (320 kilometers) for low-flyingtargets and farther for aerospace vehicles flying at medium to high altitudes. The radarcombined with an identification friend or foe subsystem can look down to detect, identifyand track enemy and friendly low-flying aircraft by eliminating ground clutter returnsthat confuse other radar systems. Other major subsystems in the E-3 are navigation,communications and computers (data processing). Consoles display computer-processed datain graphic and tabular format on video screens. Console operators perform surveillance,identification, weapons control, battle management and communications functions. The radarand computer subsystems on the E-3 Sentry can gather and present broad and detailedbattlefield information. Data is collected as events occur. This includes position andtracking information on enemy aircraft and ships, and location and status of friendlyaircraft and naval vessels. The information can be sent to major command and controlcenters in rear areas or aboard ships. In time of crisis, this data can be forwarded tothe National Command Authorities in the United States.

In support of air-to-ground operations, the Sentry can provide direct informationneeded for interdiction, reconnaissance, airlift and close-air support for friendly groundforces. It can also provide information for commanders of air operations to gain andmaintain control of the air battle. As an air defense system, E-3s can detect, identifyand track airborne enemy forces far from the boundaries of the United States or NATOcountries. It can direct fighter-interceptor aircraft to these enemy targets. Experiencehas proven that the E-3 Sentry can respond quickly and effectively to a crisis and supportworldwide military deployment operations. It is a jam-resistant system that has performedmissions while experiencing heavy electronic countermeasures. With its mobility as anairborne warning and control system, the Sentry has an excellent chance of surviving inwar. Among other things, the flight path can quickly be changed according to mission andsurvival requirements.

The E-3 can fly a mission profile for more than 8 hours without refueling. Its rangeand on-station time can be increased through inflight refueling. The aircraft can be usedas a surveillance asset in support of other government agencies during counter drugoperations. U.S. Customs Service officers may fly aboard the E-3 Sentry on precoordinatedmissions to detect smuggling activities. Engineering, test and evaluation began on thefirst E-3 Sentry in October 1975. In March 1977 the 552nd Airborne Warning and ControlWing (now 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker AFB,Okla.), received the first E-3s where they are still assigned. Pacific Air Forces has fourE-3 Sentries assigned to the 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron (AACS), Kadena AirBase, Japan, and the 962nd AACS, ElmendorfAFB, Alaska. NATO has acquired 18 of the aircraft and support equipment. The first E-3was delivered to NATO in January 1982. The United Kingdom has seven E-3s and France hasfour. E-3 Sentry aircraft were among the first to deploy during Operation Desert Shieldwhere they immediately established an around-the-clock radar screen to defend againstIraqi aggression.

During Desert Storm, E-3s flew more than 400 missions and logged more than 5,000 hoursof on-station time. They provided radar surveillance and control to more than 120,000coalition sorties. In addition to providing senior leadership with time-criticalinformation on the actions of enemy forces, E-3 controllers assisted in 38 of the 40air-to-air kills recorded during the conflict. For the first time in the history of aerialwarfare, an entire air war has been recorded. This was due to the data collectioncapability of the E-3 radar and computer subsystems. In March 1996, the Air Forceactivated an AWACS Reserve Associate Program unit which will perform duties on active-dutyaircraft. The unit is assigned to the 507th Operations Group at Tinker.