E-3 AWACS (Sentry) Airborne Warning and Control System, US

The role of the E-3 is to carry out airborne surveillance, and command, control and communications (C3) functions for both tactical and air defense forces. An E-3 Sentry flying in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Clayton Cupit. A United Kingdom E-3 Sentry AEW, airborne early warning aircraft. The basic E-3 aircraft is a militarized version of the Boeing 707-320B commercial jet airframe. The primary radar housed in the rotodome is the Northrop Grumman AN/APY-1/2 AWACS radar. The aircraft is equipped with 14 command and control consoles fitted with high resolution colour displays supplied by Hazeltine. France operates a fleet of 4 E-3s. The Royal Saudi Air Force operates a fleet of 5 E-3s. NATO operates a fleet of 14 E-3A AWACS aircraft at the air base in Geilenkirchen, Germany. Credit: NATO. An E-3D Sentry AWACS aircraft of the Royal Air Force operating during Operation Allied Force. Boeing completed RISP upgrades for the E-3A aircraft op...