Boeing Defense, Space & Security
E-3 Sentry
The Boeing E‑3 Sentry is an airborne early‑warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft developed from the commercial Boeing 707 airframe. First rolled out in 1975, it entered service with the United States Air Force in 1977 and quickly became the cornerstone of NATO’s air‑defence network. Over four decades the E‑3 has been exported to Australia, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and other allies, setting a standard for joint surveillance operations worldwide.
Its most recognizable feature is the rotating radar dome, or “rotodome,” 30 feet in diameter, housing a phased‑array radar that can track aircraft, missiles and surface ships at ranges exceeding 250 nautical miles. The cockpit is equipped with modern digital displays, while the mission crew of up to 24 operators uses integrated communications, data‑link and electronic‑support‑measures suites to produce a real‑time battlespace picture. Advanced avionics upgrades, such as the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) and block‑40/50 enhancements, keep the platform relevant against evolving threats.
The E‑3 Sentry’s ability to detect, identify and direct assets across vast theaters has reshaped command and control doctrine, making it indispensable for air superiority, humanitarian relief and crisis‑response missions, and cementing its legacy as a pivotal advance in aviation history.
Its most recognizable feature is the rotating radar dome, or “rotodome,” 30 feet in diameter, housing a phased‑array radar that can track aircraft, missiles and surface ships at ranges exceeding 250 nautical miles. The cockpit is equipped with modern digital displays, while the mission crew of up to 24 operators uses integrated communications, data‑link and electronic‑support‑measures suites to produce a real‑time battlespace picture. Advanced avionics upgrades, such as the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) and block‑40/50 enhancements, keep the platform relevant against evolving threats.
The E‑3 Sentry’s ability to detect, identify and direct assets across vast theaters has reshaped command and control doctrine, making it indispensable for air superiority, humanitarian relief and crisis‑response missions, and cementing its legacy as a pivotal advance in aviation history.
Classification
Dimensions
- Wing Area
- 283.4 square metre
- Length
- 46.61 metre
Performance
- Service Ceiling
- 8788 metre
- Range
- 5000 nautical mile
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 68
- First Flight
- 1972
- Service Entry
- 1977
Design & Classification
- Primary Use
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Boeing Defense, Space & Security
- Engine
- TF33-PW-100A
- Operator
-
United States Air Force United States Army
- Wikidata ID
- Q261384