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| Boeing E-3 Sentry |
Militarymedia.net - The Boeing E-3A Sentry is essentially a flexible, interference-resistant, mobile, and durable air radar station. The AirBorne Warning and Control System (AWACS) is primarily in charge of air surveillance, but can also act as a command and control center.
Boeing was contracted on 23 July 1970 to provide two EC-137D prototypes. Based on the fuselage of the Model 707-300B, it added a large 9.14 m diameter rotodome above the rear fuselage to hold antennas for search radar. Other important avionics antennae are placed inside the wing, fuselage and tail units. The cab is equipped with equipment space and SDC (Situation Display Consoles) for AWACS specialists. The first test aircraft flew on 5 February 1972 and the first production E-3A was delivered to the USAF on 24 March 1977.
The E-3A has been replaced in USAF service by the E-3B and E-3C, with improved APY-2 radar, higher-speed computers and secure communication facilities. The E-3C also has five additional carrier consoles. In 2001 the USAF AWACS forced 18 E-3B/C aircraft, while NATO continued to fly 17 survivors of 18 jointly funded E-3As. Based in Geilenkirchen, Germany, it has been extensively updated, most recently with the addition of the AN/AYR-1 ESM system.
The E-3 powered by the CFM56 engine serves france (four E-3F), Saudi Arabia (five E-3A) and the UK (seven E-3D Sentry AEW. Mk 1s). The E3 remains invaluable to USAF frontline forces, and the service is currently considering upgrading its E-3 with a next-generation Model 737 glass flight deck and Eagle system (to detect and track ballistic missile theaters), with infre search sensors and red tracks and laser reconnaissance. Major improvements are also planned for radar, computer and navigation systems, as well as re-engineering with the CFM56 (F108) power plant.
