AWACS: NATO’s eyes in the sky
NATO owns a fleet of AWACS E-3A radar aircraft, which provides the Alliance with an immediately available airborne surveillance, warning and command capability.
News
- 13 Oct. 2008 - IMS
NATO Military Committee visits NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen - 17-18 Jun. 2007 - SHAPE
25 years of NATO’s “eyes in the sky” - 29 Dec. 2006 - NATO
Poland joins NATO’s ‘eyes in the sky’ - 17-18 Aug. 2006 - NATO
Poland to join AWACS programme - 06 Jun. 2006 - SHAPE
NATO Support for FIFA World Cup in Germany - 22 May 2006 - SHAPE
NATO Support for Pope Benedict’s visit to Spain
PDF Library
- November 2004 - NATO
AWACS: NATO's eyes in the sky (.PDF/~550Kb)
Multimedia
- High resolution photos
- AWACS video
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Further Research
- NATO Library
Eng.
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The AWACS – or Airborne Warning and Control Systems – are modified Boeing 707s (called E-3A), equipped with special radar capable of detecting air traffic over large distances and at low altitudes. The data can be transmitted directly from the aircraft to command and control centers on the ground, sea or in the air.
The fleet, formally called the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force (NAEWF), is one of the few military assets that are actually owned and operated by NATO. It is the Alliance’s largest common-funded project and an example of what NATO member countries can achieve by pooling resources.
What are its tasks and responsibilities?
The AWACS play a unique and valuable role for the Alliance by conducting a broad range of missions, ranging from air surveillance to air support and reconnaissance. In recent years, they increasingly have been deployed on complex and tactical missions, including air-to-air and air-to-ground control, airspace management, air policing, combat search and rescue, force marshalling and threat warning.
More…Who participates?
Multinationality is a key characteristic of the AWACS programme. It involves 15 NATO countries: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the United States. The United Kingdom also contributed to the programme, but decided to create its own unit of E-3D AWACS aircraft. All these countries, together with the United Kingdom, participate in the multinational NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force (NAEW&CF).
More…How does it work in practice?
At present, the fleet numbers 17 Boeing AWACS E-3A radar aircraft and three trainer/cargo planes. To operate one E-3A and all of its on-board systems, there is a crew of 17 highly trained men and women from all areas of expertise.
More…How did it evolve?
During the 1960s, it became clear that military aircraft could no longer fly high enough to avoid surface-to-air missiles. To survive in an increasingly lethal air defence environment, aircraft were forced down to levels little higher than tree-top. By the early 1970s, it had become essential for air defences to have the ability to look down with radars to see low-flying aircraft. To acquire this capability, it was necessary to install a radar into a flying platform.
More…