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A-50 'Mainstay' AWACS aircraft of Russian Air Force ]] The Airborne Warning and Control System ('''AWACS''') is an aircraft system designed to carry out Surveillance , and C2BM (command and control, battle management) functions. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS Modern AWAC systems can detect aircraft from up to 400 km (250 miles) away, well out of range of most surface-to-air missiles except the Russian SA-5 and S-400 . In air-to-air combat, AWAC systems can communicate with friendly aircraft, extend their sensor range and give them added stealth, since they no longer need their own active radar to detect threats. However, by the nature of radar, AWACS aircraft can be detected by opposing forces beyond its own detection range. This is because the outgoing pulse reduces in strength the further it travels. Therefore, a signal which is intended to go out and be reflected back must be strong enough to cover twice the distance between the sender and the target. Boeing/Westinghouse AWAC system This is a specific system with a rotating radar dome "rotodome" Radome designed and built by Boeing (Defense & Space Group) using Westinghouse (now Northrop Grumman ) radar. It is mounted on either the E-3 Sentry aircraft ( Boeing 707 ) or more recently a modified Boeing 767 . Only the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force has the 767 version, calling it the E-767 . NATIONAL AWACS CAPABILITIES AWACS aircraft are in service with the USAF , NATO , Russian Air Force , the RAF , French Air Force , Indian Air Force , Saudi Arabia . Greece and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force . United States The United States Air Force has an inventory of 33 E-3B and E-3C Sentry aircraft, of which one is a dedicated test bed and 32 are on active duty. One aircraft was lost in an accident on 22 September 1995. The majority of the USAF E-3s are located at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City , Oklahoma , and have been operational since 1977.
E-2 Hawkeye The U.S. Navy (and the armed forces of several other nations) use the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye for its Airborne Early Warning (AEW) missions, though the U.S. uses it in a shipboard role. The E-2 Hawkeye is the most popular AWACS ever used in the world. Russia In service with the former Soviet Union , the Beriev A-50 "Mainstay" is an AWACS conversion of the standard Ilyushin Il-76 "Candid" strategic airlifter. Several foreign countries ( China and India ) have also used the Il-76 as the base platform for their own airborne radar needs. Israel Israel has developed the IAI/Elta Phalcon system, which uses an Active Electronically Scanned Array in lieu of a rotodome antenna. The system is mounted on a Boeing platform. Israel has recently put in service a variant of the Gulfstream G550 aircraft, equipped with airborne radar systems made by Israel Aircraft Industries(IAI). The Gulfstream version is called the “Eitam”, and will be flown by the Nachshon squadron. The first of three Gulfstream G-550 AWACS was delivered to the IAF recently and the other two will follow over the next 2-3 years. Elta will install the radar and command and control equipment into three aircraft, worth over $500 million USD. The Gulfstream G-550 planes were funded with US military aid money. The Eitam will provide a radar picture of the combat zone, including SSR , and communicate with other aircraft and ground stations. India As part of its ''Eye in the sky'' project, India has developed the AESA radar which will be integrated on the Embraer EMB-145 aircraft.[http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/29/stories/2007082961591900.htm DRDO seeks partner for early warning and control system programme] The AWACS will be inducted by 2011. DRDO's indeginious AWAC systems by 2011 Other nations The Israel (IAI) radar system has been sold to India and Chile. Australia , Turkey and Korea are to deploy versions of the AEW&C Boeing 737 variant, using the Northrop Grumman MESA (Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array) radar system. Pakistan Air Force have ordered six Saab-2000 Erieye AEW&C aircraft. The Royal Australian Air Force will take delivery of its first Boeing Wedgetail AEW aircraft in 2008. The so-called Wedgetail is the newest aircraft of its type. Recently, the ministry of defence of Singapore MINDEF announced that it's old E2-C's will be replaced by four Gulfstream G-550-AEW airplanes, as part of the modernization of the SAF . NATO has 17 E-3 Sentry aircraft, stationed in Geilenkirchen , Germany . One aircraft was lost in an accident. The UK possesses seven, Saudi Arabia has five, and France four additional planes. ]] SEE ALSO
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