## Lockheed-Martin E-260 AWACS "Watcher"

  The E-260 is a dedicated AWACS (Airborne Warning And Control System) plane built from the C-260 airframe. The E-260 "Watcher" has a large rotating dish on top of the aircraft, mounted on fixed pylons to raise the dish as high as possible. The E-260 is also designed for electronic warfare, with the incorporation of ECM/ECCM into the electronics suite. Also added is aural/thermal masking to reduce the plane's signature significantly to increase it's survival. The crew sits in a 5 x 2 aisle layout, with each RO (Radar Operator) doing his or her function onboard the plane. In appearance, the Watcher resembles the A-50 "Mainstay" AWACS plane of the CIS, which itself was designed from the Beriev and Ilyushin Design Bereaus, which is based on the IL-76 "Candid" transport. The radar has a range of 300 kilometers, able to contol a vast area of airspace. The crew is capable of directing assets should a hostile aircraft enter thier airspace. Also, the radar can provide targeting for friendly aircraft missiles, allowing the aircraft to fire the missiles without having to use thier own radars for targeting. In the "standard" mode, the system can track anything and everything.
  Bobby loses track of his Radio Control plane? a friendly AWACS controller will happily have it tracked, and alert 50 sites in it's way. The "targeting" mode has a range of 60 kilometers, and if necessary, it'll fire it's own at you (trust me people, an AWACS is a good kill, as it denies your opponent control of the skies, go for the AWACS, but it won't be easy, believe me, it won't). For the game side of things, make a standard test to see if the radar "locks on" to the targeted aircraft (the phrase "don't know what hit you" is a good way of explaining it), and all standard modifiers apply. It's not that good, but it's damn close, as mainly computers do the tracking, putting a simulated tactical environment together for the controllers in the plane. This not only reduces workload, but confusion is less likely to happen. The E-260 shares 70% parts commonality with the C-260 Titan, so there really is no problem finding parts. The other amenities include a Stuffer dispenser, coffee as well, and always needed, a bathroom. The plane itself has added armor (prime target, plus two of your favorite aircraft gaurding it), defensive chaff/flare dispensers, the works. Also mounted are two pylons per wing with 8 CF each, loaded with AAMs with one or two firing to the rear, be warned.

  Handling | Speed | Body | Armor | Signature | Autopilot | Cost
  4 | 150/350 | 6 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 71M¥

  Seating: 2+3 armored bucket seats, 10 armored bucket seats
  Access: 2 side hatches+rear ramp
  Economy: 0.5 km/liter
  Fuel: 180,000 liters
  Cargo: 100 CF
  Sensors: Security II (5)
  ECM/ECCM: Military III (6)/Military III (6)
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  ###### Fresh Productions, 1997