Why the USAF is Replacing Its Iconic AWACS Planes with the E-7 Wedgetail

If you’re a fan of military aviation, you’ve probably seen the distinctive shape of the E-3 Sentry, also known as the AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) plane. The E-3 Sentry is a modified Boeing 707 with a large rotating radar dome above the fuselage, providing all-weather surveillance, command and control, and communication functions for air and ground forces.

The E-3 Sentry has been in service with the U.S. Air Force (USAF) since 1977, and has participated in numerous conflicts and operations, such as the Persian Gulf War, the Kosovo War, the War in Afghanistan, and the War in Iraq. It has also been used by NATO, the United Kingdom, France, and Saudi Arabia.

However, the E-3 Sentry is facing retirement, as the USAF has announced that it will replace its fleet of 31 E-3s with 26 E-7A Wedgetail aircraft, starting from 2027. The E-7A Wedgetail is a modified Boeing 737 with a fixed radar on top of the tail, and is already in service with Australia, South Korea, and Turkey.

But why is the USAF getting rid of the famous rotodome planes and replacing them with more mundane looking E-7s? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the two types of AWACS? And how important are AWACS planes nowadays? In this blog post, we’ll try to answer these questions and more.

What is an AWACS?

AWACS stands for Airborne Warning and Control System, and it is a type of aircraft that provides surveillance, command and control, and communication functions for air and ground forces. AWACS planes can detect, identify, and track enemy and friendly aircraft, ships, and vehicles, and provide situational awareness and guidance to friendly forces. AWACS planes can also act as airborne command posts, coordinating and directing air operations, and as relay stations, transmitting data and messages between different units.

AWACS planes are equipped with powerful radars that can scan large areas of the sky and the ground, and distinguish between moving and stationary targets, even in adverse weather conditions. AWACS planes also have sophisticated electronic warfare and communication systems that allow them to operate in hostile environments and communicate with multiple platforms.

AWACS planes are usually accompanied by fighter jets that provide escort and protection, as AWACS planes are not armed and are vulnerable to enemy attacks. AWACS planes can also refuel in mid-air, extending their endurance and range.

Meet the new E-7 Wedgetail

The E-7A Wedgetail is the latest AWACS platform that the USAF has chosen to replace its aging E-3 Sentry fleet. The E-7A Wedgetail is a modified Boeing 737–700, a popular commercial airliner, with a fixed radar on top of the tail. The radar is called the Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA), and it is a phased array radar that can electronically steer its beam in different directions, without moving the antenna.

The E-7A Wedgetail can carry a crew of up to 10, including two pilots, two flight engineers, and six mission crew members. The mission crew operates the radar, the electronic support measures, the communication systems, and the data links. The E-7A Wedgetail can fly at a speed of up to 530 mph (850 km/h), and at an altitude of up to 41,000 feet (12,500 meters). It has a range of up to 3,500 miles (5,600 kilometers), and can stay airborne for up to 10 hours, or longer with aerial refueling.

The E-7A Wedgetail has been in service with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) since 2009, and has been deployed in various missions, such as Operation Slipper in Afghanistan, Operation Okra in Iraq and Syria, and Operation Resolute Support in the Middle East. The E-7A Wedgetail has also been used for humanitarian and disaster relief operations, such as Operation Pacific Assist in Fiji, and Operation Bushfire Assist in Australia.

The E-7A Wedgetail has also been exported to South Korea and Turkey, and has been selected by the UK as the replacement for its E-3D Sentry fleet. The E-7A Wedgetail is considered one of the most advanced and capable AWACS platforms in the world, and has received praise from its operators and allies.

The new radar

One of the main reasons why the USAF has decided to switch from the E-3 Sentry to the E-7 Wedgetail is the radar system. The E-3 Sentry uses a mechanical radar that rotates inside the dome, scanning the airspace 360 degrees every 10 seconds. The radar is called the AN/APY-1/2, and it is a pulse-Doppler radar that can track up to 600 targets at a time, and has a range of up to 250 miles (400 kilometers).

The E-3 Sentry’s radar, however, has some limitations and drawbacks. First, the radar is outdated and vulnerable to jamming and interference, as it operates in a narrow band of frequencies. Second, the radar requires a lot of maintenance and repairs, as the rotating mechanism wears out over time. Third, the radar consumes a lot of power and generates a lot of heat, reducing the efficiency and reliability of the system.

The E-7 Wedgetail, on the other hand, uses an electronic radar that does not rotate, but scans the airspace electronically, using multiple beams that can be steered in different directions. The radar is called the MESA, and it is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar that can track up to 1,000 targets at a time, and has a range of up to 370 miles (600 kilometers).

The E-7 Wedgetail’s radar has several advantages and improvements over the E-3 Sentry’s radar. First, the radar is more advanced and resilient, as it operates in a wide band of frequencies, and can switch between them to avoid jamming and interference. Second, the radar requires less maintenance and repairs, as it has no moving parts and is more durable. Third, the radar consumes less power and generates less heat, increasing the efficiency and reliability of the system.

The E-7 Wedgetail’s radar also has some unique features that the E-3 Sentry’s radar does not have. For example, the E-7 Wedgetail’s radar can perform both air and sea surveillance simultaneously, while the E-3 Sentry’s radar can only do one at a time. The E-7 Wedgetail’s radar can also perform synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging, which can provide high-resolution images of ground and sea targets, respectively. The E-7 Wedgetail’s radar can also perform ground moving target indication (GMTI) and maritime moving target indication (MMTI), which can detect and track moving targets on land and water, respectively.

Why was change necessary?

The USAF has been planning to replace its E-3 Sentry fleet for a long time, as the aircraft are reaching the end of their service life and becoming obsolete. The E-3 Sentry was designed in the 1970s, and entered service in the 1980s, and has undergone several upgrades and modifications over the years. However, the E-3 Sentry still suffers from some inherent limitations and challenges, such as:

• High operating and maintenance costs. The E-3 Sentry is expensive to operate and maintain, as it requires a large crew, frequent inspections, and extensive repairs. The E-3 Sentry also consumes a lot of fuel.
• Low availability and reliability. The E-3 Sentry has a low availability and reliability rate, as it often suffers from technical issues and malfunctions, and needs a lot of downtime for maintenance and repairs. The E-3 Sentry also has a low mission capable rate, meaning that it is often not ready or able to perform its assigned missions.
• Limited performance and capability. The E-3 Sentry has a limited performance and capability, as it has an outdated radar system, an old airframe, and a slow speed. The E-3 Sentry also has a limited interoperability and compatibility, meaning that it cannot communicate or work well with other platforms and systems.