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Deliveries of the Sentry AEW1,
commenced in March 1991 and delivery of all seven airframes was complete in
early 1992. These seven aircraft are of the same type as the 18 delivered to the
multinational NATO early warning force between 1982/1985.
Powered by four CFM
56-2A-3 engines, the Sentry is designed to cruise at 29,000 feet
whilst detecting air and surface contacts with its AN/APY-2 surveillance
radar.
Information is then transmitted back to interceptor aircraft and, ground
air-and-ship-based units using a wide variety of digital datalinks. All are
equipped with the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) and a
665,360 word memory secure communication system.
Between 1998-2000,
RAF Sentry aircraft were upgraded under the Radar System Improvement Programme (RSIP)
costing some £120 million. New Global Positioning System navigation equipment
was also installed. Most recently, Sentry AEW1 aircraft were deployed in support
of Operation Telic during the 2003
Iraq War, and for Operation Oracle in
support of ISAF in Afghanistan from 2002.
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SENTRY
AEW1
Specifications
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| Crew
|
5 x
Flight Crew
|
| |
12/13
Mission Crew
|
| Wingspan
|
44.42m
|
|
Height |
12.73m
|
|
Length |
46.61m
|
| All
Up Operational Weight |
147,400kg |
|
Patrol Endurance |
6
hrs (can be enhanced by AAR) |
|
Ferry Range |
3,200 km |
| Max
Speed |
853 k/ph (530 mph) |
| Engines |
4 x CFM-56-2A-3 |
| Armament |
Provision for self-defence air-to-air
missiles |
In service with:
|
8 Squadron |
3 x Sentry AEW1 |
RAF Waddington |
|
23 Squadron |
3 x Sentry AEW1 |
RAF Waddington |
Photo
Crown Copyright
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