The Boeing E-3 AWACS aircraft is a vital part of the UK's and NATO's Air Defence. This extraordinary aeroplane is used by most NATO countries, but is an American design by Boeing. The E-3's role is to act as a control centre for the aircraft in it's area, covering tasks such as target identification and tracking, data processing and communications. For this, the E-3 has its huge radomes. They are two D-shapes, attached to the central beam holding them above the aircraft's body, and contain the Westinghouse surveillance radar array, a TADIL C/IFF antenna and antenna ancillary equipment. The E-3 is a Boeing 707 airliner with a radome, uprated specifications, computers replacing the passenger seats and advanced cockpit controls and systems. The E-3D Sentry replaced the Shackleton. The original plan was for an AEW version of the Nimrod to replace the Shackleton, but technical difficulties & overspending resulted in the project being cancelled. Instead, seven Boeing E-3D Sentrys were ordered, & replaced the Shackleton immediately. The Sentry operates at a height of about 30,000ft, compared to the Shackleton's operating height of 5,000-8,000ft, a marked improvement. The final E-3D (ZA107) was the 1,000th & last E-3 Sentry to be produced by Boeing. The RAF's E-3Ds are essentially the same as other E-3 Sentrys, except for their quieter & more fuel-efficient General Electric/ SNECMA CFM56-2A-3 turbofans, offering longer range & endurance. The CFM56-2A-3s are also equipped with thrust-reversers. The E-3D has endurance of between 20-24 hours with IFR.
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