BOEING E-3D SENTRY AEW MK.1 100 YEARS OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
PATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERS RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION 85Type: 18-crew airborne early warning and control aircraft
First fl ight: May 25, 1976 (E-3), entered service March 1991
Powerplant: Four 24,000lb st (107kN) CFM International CFM 56 turbofans
Dimensions: Span 145ft 9in (44.42m), length 152ft 11in (46.61m)
Weights: Empty 170,227lb (77,215kg), all-up 325,000lb (147,420kg)
Max speed: 530mph (853km/h) at 36,000ft (10,973m)
Range: 5,000 miles (8,046km)
Armament: Nil
Replaced: Avro Shackleton AEW.2
Taken on charge: Seven
Replaced by: N /ABOEING E-3D SENTRY AEW MK.1
for NATO duties and have
subsequently been used in areas
of conflict overseas, as well as
providing a welcome service around
the coast of Britain.
Today the Sentry is fully integrated
into the RAF’s ISTAR (intelligence,
surveillance, target acquisition, and
reconnaissance) force, yet retains its
core competencies of airborne early
warning and airspace management.
Most recently its capabilities have
been a vital part of Operation
Shader, patrolling the skies over Iraq
and Syria to deconflict airspace,
provide ‘big picture’ situational
awareness for Coalition aircraft and
early warning of aircraft movements
outside Coalition control.
The RAF Sentry fleet is mostly
flown by 8 Squadron, but is also
at the disposal of 54 Squadron
(the ISTAR conversion unit) and
56 Squadron (Air C2ISR Test and
Evaluation Squadron).
The 2015 Strategic Defence
and Security Review called for
Sentry to remain in service until at
least 2035.“The aircraft monitors airspace to detect
adversary aircraft and provide situational
awareness on friendly assets.”
Above
Four E-3D Sentry
aircraft of 8 Squadron
sit on the apron at
RAF Waddington.
CROWN COPYRIGHT/SAC
ANDY STEVENSLeft
When the Sentry
entered service in
1991 it was a vital
part of the RAF’s
defence of the British
Isles during the latter
years of the Cold War.
Integrated operations
with air defence
fi ghters, such as the
Tornado F.3, ensured
the nation’s air space
remained secure.
Today the aircraft is
no less useful and
operates globally as
part of NATO.