E-3 Sentry
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E-3 Sentry is an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft operated by the United States Air Force (USAF), Royal Air Force (RAF), French Air Force (FAF), and the NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force (NAEW&CF). The E-3 Sentry is based on the Boeing 707 commercial airliner and is equipped with advanced radar and communication systems, including the AN/APY-1 and AN/APY-2 radar systems. The aircraft plays a critical role in providing airborne command and control, and has been used in various military operations, including the Gulf War and the War in Afghanistan. The E-3 Sentry has also been used by the US Air National Guard and has participated in numerous exercises, including the Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base.
● Development
The development of the E-3 Sentry began in the 1970s, with the US Air Force issuing a request for proposal (RFP) for an airborne early warning and control system. The contract was awarded to Boeing in 1972, and the first E-3 Sentry aircraft was delivered to the USAF in 1977. The aircraft was designed to replace the EC-121 Warning Star, and was equipped with advanced radar and communication systems, including the AN/APY-1 radar system developed by Westinghouse Electric Corporation. The E-3 Sentry was also designed to be compatible with the NATO air defense system, and has been used in numerous NATO exercises, including the NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force (NAEW&CF) exercises at Geilenkirchen Air Base.
● Design
The E-3 Sentry is based on the Boeing 707-320B commercial airliner, and is equipped with a rotating radar dome, known as a rotodome, which is mounted on top of the aircraft. The rotodome is equipped with the AN/APY-1 and AN/APY-2 radar systems, which provide airborne early warning and control capabilities. The aircraft is also equipped with advanced communication systems, including the AN/ARC-171 and AN/ARC-210 radios, which provide secure communication with other aircraft and ground stations. The E-3 Sentry has a crew of 13, including the pilot, co-pilot, and airborne warning and control system (AWACS) operators, who are trained at the US Air Force Academy and the Royal Air Force College Cranwell.
● Operational_history
The E-3 Sentry has been used in numerous military operations, including the Gulf War and the War in Afghanistan. The aircraft has also been used in various exercises, including the Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base and the NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force (NAEW&CF) exercises at Geilenkirchen Air Base. The E-3 Sentry has been operated by the US Air Force, Royal Air Force, French Air Force, and the NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force (NAEW&CF), and has been deployed to various locations, including Incirlik Air Base in Turkey and RAF Waddington in the United Kingdom. The aircraft has also been used to support United Nations peacekeeping operations, including the United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM) and the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in the Balkans.
● Operators
The E-3 Sentry is operated by the United States Air Force (USAF), Royal Air Force (RAF), French Air Force (FAF), and the NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force (NAEW&CF). The aircraft is also used by the US Air National Guard and has been operated by the Saudi Arabian Air Force and the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force. The E-3 Sentry is based at various locations, including Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, RAF Waddington in the United Kingdom, and Geilenkirchen Air Base in Germany. The aircraft has also been deployed to various locations, including Incirlik Air Base in Turkey and Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.
● Variants
There are several variants of the E-3 Sentry, including the E-3A, E-3B, E-3C, and E-3D. The E-3A is the initial production variant, while the E-3B is an upgraded variant with improved radar and communication systems. The E-3C is a variant used by the US Air National Guard, and the E-3D is a variant used by the Royal Air Force. The E-3 Sentry has also been modified to perform other roles, including airborne early warning and command and control.
● Specifications
The E-3 Sentry has a length of 152 feet 11 inches (46.61 meters) and a wingspan of 145 feet 9 inches (44.42 meters). The aircraft has a height of 41 feet 4 inches (12.6 meters) and a maximum takeoff weight of 325,000 pounds (147,000 kilograms). The E-3 Sentry is powered by four Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines, each producing 17,000 pounds of thrust. The aircraft has a maximum speed of 530 miles per hour (853 kilometers per hour) and a range of 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers). The E-3 Sentry is equipped with advanced radar and communication systems, including the AN/APY-1 and AN/APY-2 radar systems, and has a crew of 13, including the pilot, co-pilot, and airborne warning and control system (AWACS) operators.