The Boeing E-3 Sentry is an American military airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft that provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, to the United States, United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia, and NATO air defense forces. Production ended in 1992 after 68 had been built.
 | |
| Type | Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Innis Cunningham, Vivian Meazza, David Culp, Julien Pierru |
| FDM | JSBSim |
| --aircraft= |
/E3B, E3B-nato /E3B, E3B-nato /E3B, E3B-nato /E3B, E3B-nato /E3B, E3B-nato /E3B, E3B-nato /E3B, E3B-nato /E3B, E3B-nato /E3B, E3B-nato /E3B, E3B-nato /E3B, E3B-nato |
| Status | Development |
Design
The E-3 as equipped in USAF and NATO service can fly without refueling for 8 hours or 4000 miles, whilst newer examples in British, French and Saudi service, equipped with CFM56-2 engines can fly for 10 hours or 5000 miles without refuelling. Its range and on-station time can be increased through inflight refueling and the use of an on-board crew rest area. The range and loiter time can be used to alter the flight plan as required for operation reasons.
Variants
Only the E-3B is modeled in FlightGear at the moment!
- EC-137D
- Two prototype AWACS aircraft with JT3D engines, one fitted with a Westinghouse radar and the other with a Hughes radar. Both converted to E-3A standard with TF33 engines.
- E-3A
- Production aircraft with TF33 engines and AN/APY-1 radar, 25 built for USAF later converted to E-3B standard. 18 built for NATO with TF33 engines and five for Saudi Arabia with CFM56 engines.
- KE-3A
- These are not AWACS aircraft but CFM56 powered tankers for Saudi Arabia, 8 built.
- E-3B
- E-3As converted with AN/APY-2 radar and other improvements, 24 conversions.
- E-3C
- Production aircraft with system improvements, nine built. NATO E-3A aircraft although not re-designated have been modified to the same equipment standard.
- JE-3C
- One E-3A aircraft used by Boeing for trials later redesignated E-3C.
- E-3D
- Production aircraft for the Royal Air Force to E-3C standard with CFM56 engines and British modifications designated Sentry AEW.1, seven built.
- E-3F
- Production aircraft for the French Air Force to E-3C standard with CFM56 engines and French modifications, four built.
- E-3G
- USAF Block 40/45 modification with Airframe Modernization Program (AMP).
- Sentry AEW.1
- British designation for the E-3D.
- TC-18E
- used for E-3 Sentry crew proficiency training. No mission equipment.