Design and configuration
A large rotating radome sits on supports above the rear fuselage. The 707-derived airframe provides the cabin volume for mission operators and their equipment.1
FORCETALLY
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Support aircraftIn serviceProfile in progress
The E-3 Sentry is a four-engine airborne warning and control aircraft. The E-3G designation identifies the US mission-system upgrade rather than every aircraft carrying the Sentry name.
United StatesBoeing E-3 Sentry
Senior Airman Roslyn Ward · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · ModifiedAirborne early warning and control (AEW&C)
United States
Boeing Defense, Space & Security
In service
United States Air Force NATO Royal Air Force (former) Royal Saudi Air Force
68
1977–1992
March 1977
EC-137D: 9 February 1972 E-3: 25 May 1976
2021 (RAF)
Boeing 707
Flight crew: 4 (aircraft commander, pilot, navigator, flight engineer); Mission crew: 13–19
152 ft 11 in (46.61 m)
145 ft 9 in (44.42 m)
41 ft 4 in (12.60 m)
3,050 sq ft (283 m 2 )
185,000 lb (83,915 kg)
344,000 lb (156,036 kg)
347,000 lb (157,397 kg)
4 × Pratt and Whitney TF33-PW-100A turbofan , 21,500 lbf (96 kN) thrust each
461 kn (531 mph, 854 km/h)
310 kn (360 mph, 580 km/h) optimum
4,000 nmi (4,600 mi, 7,400 km)
more than 8 hours without refuelling (about 11 hours with CFM56 engine)
29,000 ft (8,800 m) minimum
Reference text from Wikipedia contributors, used under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The system in detail
A large rotating radome sits on supports above the rear fuselage. The 707-derived airframe provides the cabin volume for mission operators and their equipment.1
The mission suite combines radar surveillance, communications and battle-management workstations. Upgraded computing changes how information is handled without making every airframe a new-build aircraft.1
This record concerns the US E-3G. National E-3 fleets differ in engines and mission systems; retirement decisions must be dated and should not be generalised to the entire international fleet.1
Aircraft inventory does not establish availability. Compare configuration, support condition and endurance while keeping radar performance claims tied to stated targets and conditions.1
E-3 Sentry equipment records. Variants, orders and quantities are shown as reported in each inventory source; coverage is incomplete.
BelgiumNumber column of the Wikipedia list table under "Air surveillance". The list's own wording applies; it is a compiled secondary source, not an official census.
ChileNumber column of the Wikipedia list table under "AEW&C". The list's own wording applies; it is a compiled secondary source, not an official census.
FranceReported count for Boeing E-3 Sentry · E-3F. Service scope: Air Force; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): in service: 4. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. Dates are the count-cell citations' stated source period (2026), not the article revision. 2026 cited source edition. Edition or publication years do not claim an exact inventory census day.
GermanyReported count for Boeing E-3 Sentry · E-3A. Service scope: Aircraft of the German Air Force; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): in service: 14. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. Dates are the count-cell citations' stated source period (2025), not the article revision. 2025 cited source edition. Edition or publication years do not claim an exact inventory census day.
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Saudi ArabiaReported count for Boeing E-3 · E/RE-3A. Service scope: Royal Saudi Air Force; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): in service: 6. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. Dates are the count-cell citations' stated source period (2025), not the article revision. 2025 cited publication year. Edition or publication years do not claim an exact inventory census day.
United StatesUS Air Force E-3G Sentry (AWACS) Total Aircraft Inventory holdings as of 30 September 2025, including Active Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command. This covers the named source row only, not all variants in the family or all United States services. Inventory includes aircraft not immediately deployable; it is not a combat-readiness count.
United States Air Force NATO Royal Air Force (former) Royal Saudi Air Force
Equipment reference ↗Reported count for Boeing E-3 Sentry · E-3F. Service scope: French Air and Space Force; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Excludes retired/reserve/on-order rows. Count column(s): in service: 4. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. Dates are the count-cell citations' stated source period (2026), not the article revision. 2026 cited source edition. Edition or publication years do not claim an exact inventory census day.