E-3 Centry AWACS
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The E-3 Sentry is the most important airborne warning aircraft nowadays in servce.
The AWACS provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications needed by commanders of U.S. and NATO air defense forces.
The AWACS has proven itself in combat; During the 1990 to 1991 Operation Desert Storm, some 845 AWACS sorties were flown and NATO E-3s have also played a major role in the United Nations' enforcement of the no-fly zone over Bosnia and during the Kosovo crisis.
E-3 fills the needs of both airborne surveillance and command and control (C2) functions for tactical and air defense forces. It provides a highly mobile, survivable surveillance and C2 platform.
The E-3 AWACS is simply a commercial Boeing 707/320B airframe modified with the distinctive radome that houses a pulse-Doppler radar capable of detecting aircraft and cruise missiles, the E3 look-down radar has a 360-degree view of the horizon, and at operating altitudes has a range of more than 320 km.
One E-3A flying at 30,000 ft / 9,150 m has over 312,000 kmē in its field of view.
The radar can detect and track air and sea targets simultaneously.
Specifications
| Type: | Airborne surveillance, command, control and communications |
Manufacturer: | Boeing |
Country: | USA |
Powerplant: | Pratt and Whitney TF33-PW-100A turbofan engine (4x) | Engine Thrust: | 21,000 lbs (each engine) | Length: | 145 feet, 6 inches (44 meters) | Height: | 41 feet, 4 inches (12.5 meters) | Wingspan: | 130 feet, 10 inches (39.7 meters) | Weight: | 151,955 kg || 335,000 lbs (max takeoff) | Max. Speed: | 800+ km/h || 500 mph | Range: | 9,250+ km || 5,000 nm | Ceiling: | 35,000+ feet || 10,000 Metres | Crew: | Flight crew of four plus mission crew of 13-19 specialists | costs: | n/a |
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