Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS)

The History of the Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS)

From 1954 to 1982, the U.S. military relied on the EC-121 Warning Star platform as the primary airborne early warning (AEW) system. AEW aircraft are designed to provide command and command to allied forces in the battlespace by tracking all emerging aircraft, ground vehicles and naval assets. This type of management is proving to be extremely important in the age of electronics and processing, as people increasingly rely on scanning, tracking and identification of all types. Therefore, aircraft such as the EC-121 act as "commanders", monitoring specific battlefields from a high altitude. The Vigilant Star series, based on Lockheed's "Constellation" series, met this requirement, with a total of 232 prototypes produced, known for its three-fin tail and hump-backed fuselage spine.

These aircraft served throughout the Vietnam War (1955-1975) and became known by the nickname "Connie", which of course derives from the original constellation name.

Back in the 1960s, the United States Air Force (USAF) was planning a new AEW platform that would greatly improve combat capability as a direct successor to the EC-121 product line. Turbofan jet technology now allows larger aircraft to fly farther and higher than before, and the Boeing 707 has been officially selected as the "carrier" for a powerful, advanced radar system. Two systems were then tested on two Boeing 707 airframes - one from Westinghouse's radar and the other from rival Hughes Corp.

The Westinghouse design was formally selected, and the resulting aircraft became the E-3 Sentinel. From 1977 to 1992, 68 E-3s were built. Modern E-3s are given the descriptor "Airborne Early Warning and Control" (AEW&C), from which the generic term "AWAC" is derived.

The latest E-3 Sentry production brand is "E-3G", which brings significant improvements through the Block 40/45 program. The program - currently (2013) in trials with Boeing - will improve avionics and mission capabilities, as well as onboard electronics.

Another proposed upgrade could see older cockpits replaced by more modern designs, including the "all-glass" approach now common on current and next-generation aircraft.

The main USAF/NATO E-3 consists of four flight crews and 13 to 19 mission crews. The aircraft are powered by four Pratt & Whitney TF33-PW-100A turbofan engines, each delivering 21,500 pounds of thrust. It has a top speed of 530 mph and a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles while operating from a service ceiling of nearly 41,000 feet.

The aircraft has a mission duration of eight hours, which is critical for ongoing military operations. It can be refueled by USAF KC-135 Stratotankers and similar vehicles to increase combat range and combat endurance.

The E-3 has completed its useful life since its introduction. In 1990, during Operation Desert Shield, he was baptized by fire during a coalition deployment to the Persian Gulf region. Their skills were put to the ultimate test during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, in which Saddam Hussein's Iraqi Air Force (followed by his vaunted army) was swiftly and systematically destroyed.

The E-3 recorded 379 sorties in the air combat and subsequent ground phase. Since then, the type has performed well in more modern combat, including most recently NATO's involvement in controlling the Libyan Air Force and Army during the 2011 Libyan Civil War.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes