The US Air Force has begun searching for a replacement for the E-3 Sentry long-range radar detection aircraft. As follows from the request for information, the military is ready in fiscal year 2023 to conclude a contract for two or more prototypes of a promising aircraft and are looking for suitable companies for this.
The first E-3 entered service with the US Air Force in 1977. This aircraft can reach speeds of more than 800 kilometers per hour and fly over distances of more than 9.25 thousand kilometers. It is equipped with an all-round radar system with an antenna in the fairing at the top of the fuselage. The range of this radar is more than 375 kilometers. Now the US Air Force has 31 Sentry in service.
A potential replacement for the aging E-3 could be the E-7A Wedgetail aircraft. Last fall, the US military asked Boeing about the information of this aircraft in order to study how compatible it is with their standards. Wedgetail is already in service with the Australian Air Force, and in 2023 the military of the United Kingdom is preparing to accept it.
The E-7A is based on the Boeing 737-700 aircraft. It can reach speeds of up to 955 kilometers per hour and fly at distances of up to 7 thousand kilometers. Wedgetail is equipped with a radar with a multi-purpose antenna array with electronic scanning from Northrop Grumman. The range of this radar is more than 400 kilometers.
On February 8, the US Air Force published a request for information in order to identify companies capable of offering a replacement for the E-3 Sentry. The military plans to conclude a five-year contract in fiscal year 2023 for the supply of at least two prototypes of a new flying radar, including ground support and training systems.
The Sentry successor must be able to perform at least six tasks at the same time. Including participating in offensive and defensive air defense missions, air traffic control, air cover, suppression of air defense, aerial refueling and search and rescue operations in a combat situation. Separately, the military is interested in whether the aircraft will be able to help monitor the sea zone.
It is not known whether this request for information means that the US military will abandon the previously most likely replacement of the Sentry - E-7A Wedgetail. In addition, the US Air Force does not undertake to purchase a promising flying radar, no matter who produced it.
Earlier we wrote about the Russian long-range radar detection and control aircraft A-100 "Premier", which performed the first flight with the on-board radio complex turned on. The Russian Aerospace Forces plan to receive it in 2024.
Vasilisa Chernyavtseva
