Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) Aircraft

Throughout the history of warfare, military commanders have attempted to give their forces an advantage by minimizing the fog of war. To minimize the fog during modern air combat, air forces and navies throughout the world deploy Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. These aircraft, converted from either cargo or commercial airliners, employ extremely long-range search radars. This allows highly trained mission specialists to control air operations by identifying hostile aircraft and ground targets and directing aircraft to those targets before they can threaten friendly air and ground operations in theaters around the globe. [Page 61]This entry traces the development of AWACS aircraft and describes AWACS equipment, capabilities, operations, and crew.