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The E-3 airborne warning and control system (AWACS) is built by Boeing Defense & Space Group.

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.

In the USA the aircraft carries the designation E-3 AWACS.

The UK designation is E-3 Sentry AEW (airborne early warning)

The French designation is E-3 SDA.

The first E-3 entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in March 1977. Deliveries were concluded in June 1984.

A total of 33 aircraft are in service with the USAF.

Seven with the UK Royal Air Force.  E-3 deliveries to the UK began in March 1991 and were completed in May 1992.  

Four with the French Air Force. The French Air Force received the first E-3 in May 1991 and the last aircraft in February 1992

Five with Saudi Arabia. Deliveries to the Royal Saudi Air Force commenced in June 1986 and concluded in September 1987.

Seventeen for NATO - The Nato airborne early warning force, established in 1980, has a fleet of 17 E-3A aircraft.

E3 AWACS radar surveillance capability

The E3 look-down radar has a 360° view of the horizon, and at operating altitudes has a range of more than 320km.

The radar can detect and track air and sea targets simultaneously.

In a tactical role, the E-3 can detect and track hostile aircraft operating at low altitudes over any terrain, and can identify and control friendly aircraft in the same airspace. In the strategic defense role, the E-3 provides the means to detect, identify, track and intercept airborne threats.

E-3 upgrades and block modernization

The USAF Block 30/35 modernization programme included the following upgrades: provision of GPS (global positioning system) navigation, enhanced , installation of a JTIDS ( tactical distribution system) Class II terminal and ESM (electronic support measures) equipment.

The USAF Block 40/45 upgrade programme includes new open architecture PC-based mission systems, upgraded communications and navigation systems and enhanced electronic support measures. Boeing was awarded the system development and design (SDD) contract for the programme in 2003 and the first flight of the upgraded aircraft was in July 2006. The SDD phase was successfully completed in September 2008. Boeing was awarded a low rate initial production (LRIP) contract for three E-3 AWACS aircraft in 2009.

The contract work on the first aircraft began in November 2010 and was completed in September 2011.

Full operational capability of all 33 aircraft in the USAF fleet is scheduled for 2016.

E-3 aircraft features and layout

The aircraft has four flight crew (two pilots, navigator and flight engineer) and E3B and C aircraft have 18 AWACS officers and crew, the E-3A 13.

The basic E-3 aircraft is a militarized version of the Boeing 707-320B commercial jet airframe, distinguished by the addition of a large, rotating rotodome containing the main radar, identification friend or foe (IFF) and data-link fighter-control (TADIL-C) antennas.

The layout of the equipment in the fuselage is arranged in bays with areas allocated for communications, signal and data processing, command and control consoles, navigation and target identification

In November 2006, Northrop Grumman was awarded a $104.6m contract by the USAF to provide the AN/AAQ-24 large aircraft infrared countermeasures (LAIRCM) self-protection system for the Nato fleet of 17 E-3A AWACS.

AN/APY-1/2 AWACS radar

The primary radar housed in the rotodome is the Northrop Grumman AN/APY-1/2 AWACS radar. The radar transmitters, computers and display stations are housed within the fuselage.

The radome scans at six revolutions a minute. When the radar is not operating the radome rotation rate is set at one revolution every four minutes. The radar is multi-mode using powerful interleaving and de-interleaving algorithms.

The main operating modes are: pulse Doppler non-elevation scan (PDNES) for surveillance of airborne targets; pulse Doppler elevation scan (PDES) to determine the target elevation; beyond the horizon pulse radar mode; receive only mode for passive operation; maritime mode which uses very short pulse width for the detection of surface ships; and standby mode.

The AN/APX-103 interrrogator, supplied by the Telephonics Corporation, provides both civil and military identification friend or foe (IFF) operation and instantaneously provides a data set on all targets within the radar range. The data includes IFF status, range, azimuth and elevation position and code identification.

Engines

The USA and Nato E-3 AWACS aircraft are powered by four Pratt and Whitney TF-33-PW-100/100A turbofan, 21,500lb-thrust jet engines, mounted in pods under the wings. The E-3 AWACS aircraft for Saudi Arabia, UK and France are powered by four CFM International CFM-56-2A-2/3 turbofan engines, developing 24,000lb thrust. The higher power CFM-56 engines allow aircraft operation at higher altitudes, extending the horizon for radar surveillance.

The fuel tanks in the wings have a capacity of 90,500l which give an unrefuelled range of more than 9,250km and a flight endurance of 11 hours. For increased range the aircraft is equipped with an in-flight refuelling probe and receptacle.