Boeing E-3 Sentry

In the late 1960s , the concept of national defense was adopted in the USA , according to which the detection of enemy bombers was to be carried out on long-distance approaches by trans-horizon radar oblique-return scanning of space. When bombers approached, more accurate radar detection aircraft (AEW - Airborne early Warning ) and aircraft of detection and guidance (AEW & C / AWACS) were used to more accurately determine their position and operational guidance of the fighters. Later, the requirements of the military were expanded.

The first prototype of the AWACS aircraft, created by Boeing based on the airframe of a Boeing 707-320 freighter, was designated EC-137D. He made the first flight on February 5, 1972. In total, two experimental machines were built. The series went to the E-3A aircraft, of which 34 were ordered. In the future, the aircraft were repeatedly upgraded, including those in service. The third phase of modernization, carried out in the 1990s (the Block30 / 35 project) provides for the modernization of equipment and systems, allowing both radio reconnaissance (station РТР AB / AYR-1) to be performed in a passive mode, or integration of this station into a complex of guidance and control, in order to classify targets without a request by the nature of the signals of their sources of high-frequency radiation.

In the UK, the aircraft received the name "Sentry - AEW.1". Aircraft of this modification have a universal air refueling system, which operates both with the telescopic rod of American tankers, and with the European “hose-cone” system. Also, this machine is equipped with short-wave tropospheric communication stations and radio intelligence stations. Airplanes with slightly modified equipment in the E-3F variant serve in the French Air Force .

The basis of the AWACS complex is a powerful all-round radar, the antenna of which is located in the fairing, in the upper part of the fuselage. The fairing is 9.1 m in diameter and 1.8 m in thickness mounted on two supports at a height of 4.2 m above the fuselage. The fairing is tilted down by 6 degrees to improve streamlining, and in addition to its main function it also serves to remove excess heat from the aircraft’s equipment, the antenna tilting from the horizon is electronically compensated. The antenna itself has a hydraulic drive. The data processing subsystem with the onboard computer 4PiCC-1 (developed by IBM ) provides stable support for up to 100 targets simultaneously. Bomber-type aircraft are detected from a distance of 520 km, low-flying small-sized targets can be detected at a distance of up to 400 km, targets above the horizon — up to 650 km from the aircraft.

Aircraft modifications E-3B have an improved radar AN / APY-2 with the onboard computer 4PiCC-2, the new code digital communication system. The aircraft can work on surface and sedentary air targets. Under the RSIP modernization program, the radar was finalized to effectively detect low-altitude cruise missiles. It is stated that after upgrading the receiving part of the locator, the latter will be able to detect objects with EPR (effective signal dissipation area) of 1 m² at a distance of up to 425 km.

The plane has 4 turbofan engines TF33-P-100 / 100A . The engines have 2 electric generators each, with a total power of about 1000 kW for powering the onboard equipment. Export modifications of the aircraft equipped with engines CFM56-2 .

In the United States operated 31 aircraft E-3C . 27 cars are assigned to the air base in Oklahoma City . Four aircraft in : in Anchorage in Alaska ( Joint Base "Elmendorf-Richardson" ) and in Caden , Okinawa Prefecture in Japan ( ). One aircraft was in the trial operation of the company "Boeing" (in the summer of 2012 sent for recycling). 18 aircraft were at the disposal of the European command of NATO, with a deployment at in Geilenkirchen , Germany, and registration in Luxembourg (although this country does not have a national air force).

Britain operates 7 aircraft, France - 4, Saudi Arabia - 5.

During the operation lost three aircraft.
On September 22, 1995 , the US Air Force E-3C No. 77-0354 crashed immediately after taking off from the Elmendorf airbase , Alaska, due to the shutdown of two engines, 24 crew members died.
July 14, 1996 E-3A No. 79-0457 NATO, at Preveza in Greece; interrupted takeoff - the plane rolled out of the airfield into the sea and broke in two, the crew of 16 people survived.
On August 28, 2009 , the US Air Force E-3C No. 83-0008, while landing at the Nellis airbase in Clark County, Nevada , the front desk cracked, followed by a fire.
July 13, 2019 - the fire of one of the aircraft's engines, an emergency landing in the city of Lincoln (Nebraska), no injuries. ^[one]

The data given correspond to the E-3C modification ^[2] .

Specifications

• Crew : 4 crew members and 13-19 people in the task force.
• Length : 46.61 m
• Wing Span: 44.42 m
• Height : 12.73 m
• Wing area: 283.35 m²
• Weight empty: 78 000 kg
• Weight curb: 147,420 kg
• Maximum takeoff weight: 160,822 kg
• Fuel capacity: 90 800 l
• Engines : 4 × TRD Pratt-Whitney TF33-P-100 / 100A
• Thrust: 4 × 93.41 kN
• Target detection up to 400 km (review period 10 s) ^[3]
• Cruising speed : 750 km / h

Flight characteristics

• Maximum speed : 853 km / h
• Landing speed : 230 km / h
• Tactical range: 1612 km
• Practical ceiling : 11844 m
• takeoff run: 1680 m
• path length: 1100 m
• The duration of the patrol at a distance of 1600 km without refueling in the air: 6 hours
• Flight time without refueling in the air: more than 11 hours

•   United States : 33 ^[4]
•   United Kingdom : 7
•   Saudi Arabia : 5
•   France : 4 ^[5]
•   NATO : 17