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The E-3 Sentry is a Boeing 707-320B airframe packed with radar and electronic sensors. Easily distinguishable by the large rotodome mounted above the rear fuselage, the Sentry is an Airborne Early Warning (AEW) platform which carries a flight crew of four and 13 or more systems operators. Cruising at 29,000 feet, the E3's capability significantly extends the range of ground based radars, giving longer warning time of the approach of potentially hostile targets. Air and surface contacts are detected by its AN/APY-2 surveillance radar and information is transmitted to ground and ship-based units using a wide variety of digital data links, allowing up to 600 low-flying aircraft to be tracked at any one time. Seven E-3Ds are in service with the RAF and these have wingtip pods containing passive sensors. NATO and RAF E-3s also now have the new Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS). |
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Powerplant: Four General Electric/SNECMA CFM56-2A-3 turbofans of 24,000lb st. Span: 145ft 9in (44.42m) Length: 152ft 11in (46.61m) Max Speed: 531mph (855km/h) at 30,000ft. Accommodation: Crew of 17. Recognition: Similar to the Boeing 707/KC-135 but with the distinctive large circular radar antenna dish set horizontally on two vertical struts extending from the top of the fuselage. Low-set swept narrow-chord wings with underslung engines in four separate pods, wing-tip mounted electronic support measures pods (Yellow Gate) and in-flight refuelling probes. Circular narrow-body windowless fuselage with the tailplane mounted either side of the tail cone. Tall, narrow fin and rudder, slightly swept. |
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