Air Weapons

Early Warning (1977)

Boeing

E-3 Sentry

E-3 Sentry

Instantly recognizable due to its enormous rotating radome, the Boeing E-3 Sentry is currently the USAF and NATO's principal airborne early warning system based on the venerable 707-320 civil airliner. The massive 30 foot dome's radar has a minimum range of 250 miles for low-flying targets and can detect, identify and track enemy targets while directing friendly fighter-interceptors and other forces for the kill. Another major asset is its ability to loiter for over 8 hours without refuelling, sending its information in real-time to multiple command and control centers (including the White House and Pentagon). The E-3 came to prominence during the Gulf War where for the first time in history, an entire air war was able to be recorded and has since seen action in every major US and NATO operation including the Balkans and the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Foreign users include the United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia, Japan and a multi-national NATO force of 17 units based in Geilenkirchen, Germany.

Evaluation of the first E-3 conversions began on October 1975 and entered service less than two years later as the E-3A. These were later modified with new systems such as JTIDS and GPS to either E-3B and E-3C standards, both which form the basis of the USAF's Sentry fleet. Export versions based on the E-3A include those sent to the UK and redesignated Sentry AEW.1 as well as Japanese versions which use the 767 airframe. A major joint US/NATO development program led to the RSIP (Radar System Improvement Program), improving the E-3's operational capabilites.

Preceded by:

EC-121 Warning Star (1953)

Succeeded by:

None

Datafile

DesignE-3A
NameSentry
TypeEarly Warning
Year1977
Crew17-23
Dimensions
Length44.40 m
Height12.598 m
Wing Span39.88 m
Wing Arean/a
Weight
Empty73,483 kg
Maximum100,000 kg
Wing Loading352.9 kg/m²
Performance
Speed853 km/h
Ceiling8,839 m
Range1,609 km
Powerplant
Engine4 x TF33-PW-100A
Pratt & Whitney
9,526 kgf
Thrust/Weight0.47
Sensors
RadarAN/APY-1/2
Armament
Guns-
Payload-
Production
Built34
Total68

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