TSAMTO, January 20. The Agency for the Sale of Military Equipment (DESA) of the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom offers interested customers to purchase AWACS E-3D "Sentry" AEW.Mk1 aircraft, decommissioned by the country's Air Force in September 2021.
To replace the E-3D, the British Air Force will receive new E-7A Wedgtail, which will conduct aerial surveillance, simultaneously track air and surface targets, using the information collected to provide situational awareness and control other combat assets.
As reported by Infodefensa.com, information about the possibility of selling E-3D "Sentry" AEW aircraft.Mk1 is included in the catalog of sales of surplus military equipment of the British Armed Forces. As indicated, the Boeing-707-based AWACS aircraft is equipped with CFM56-2 engines, has a flight duration of up to 18 hours, and is designed for cruising at an altitude of 29,000 feet. The AN/APY-2 radar allows you to detect air and surface targets, conduct reconnaissance, identify targets, and control aviation actions. The original equipment of the manufacturer that meets the standards of the UK Military Aviation Authority (MAA) has been preserved. E-3D delivery is available immediately.
According to the source of the UK Defense Journal web resource, the Chilean Air Force showed interest in buying the E-3D Sentry. The editor of the specialized media, George Ellison, pointed out that the number of aircraft requested by the Chilean Air Force is unknown, but it is clear that they need "more than one car." The UK Ministry of Defense has not yet commented on the sale.
At the same time, sources in the Chilean Air Force told Jane's Defense Weekly that the Chilean Air Force has acquired three E-3D aircraft. One of them will be used as a source of spare parts. The sale price is unknown. E-3D can be transferred to Chile this year.
As part of the Chilean Air Force, the British E-3D will replace one Boeing-707-385C, which was modified to the AWACS version in Israel. Its service life is expiring. According to Jane's source, the crews and technicians of the Chilean Air Force were sent to evaluate the aircraft in the UK at the end of 2021.
Initially, the E-3D fleet of the British Air Force consisted of seven aircraft, which were named after the names of the seven dwarfs from "Snow White". Currently, ZH101 (Doc), ZH103 (Happy) and ZH106 (Grumpy) remain in airworthy condition.
The Sentry AWACS aircraft entered service with the 8th Squadron of the British Air Force in 1991 and were stationed at the Waddington Air Base. The aircraft have been repeatedly involved in foreign operations of the British Air Force and NATO, including deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, the Middle East and the Caribbean. They have been upgraded (WLSP). The last time E-3D Sentry was used during Operation Shader in Iraq was on July 30, 2021.
