Image: Two RAF E-3D Sentry Aircraft at RAF Akrotiri

Description: A pair of Royal Air Force (RAF) E-3D Sentry, or AWACS, at RAF Akrotiri flying in support of defence operations. Commonly known as AWACS (Airborne Warning And Control System) after its US nomenclature, the E-3D Sentry AEW Mk.1 (Sentry AEW1 E-3D) is an airborne early warning (AEW) and command and control aircraft. The Sentry monitors airspace to provide threat detection of adversary aircraft and situational awareness on friendly assets. Information gathered by the Northrop Grumman APY-2 radar is processed by the mission crew and disseminated via a variety of data links and communication systems. Sentry also has the capability to detect ships, relaying information to maritime aircraft or allied vessels for further investigation. Its electronic support measures equipment enables the E-3D to gather emissions from other radar systems and emitters, enhancing the crew's understanding of the environment in which it is operating.
Author: UK Ministry of Defence
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
License: CC-BY-SA-3.0
License Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
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