Air Model Special. Band 42: All About AEW/AWACS and AEW & C

In general, everyone imagines an early warning aircraft with a large disc-shaped radar antenna. Spotting the enemy first is the best tactical advantage, and with the advent of aircraft and radar, search methods have changed in many ways. The horizon, which cannot be seen by ground-based radar, and the horizon behind the horizon can be seen better when the aircraft is equipped with radar and climbs to a high altitude. The "early warning aircraft" grew out of a very natural idea. It came about during World War II as a reaction to low-flying Japanese aircraft that were difficult to detect with ship radar. There was a need for "flying radar", so to speak.

After the war, the development of jet aircraft and missiles progressed rapidly, and the need arose for more comprehensive and rapid detection of the enemy, as well as air traffic control and command and control of their own forces. Larger radars, equipment and personnel were also needed to process this information, leading to the use of larger aircraft as platforms. In addition to the functions of early warning aircraft, "flying control towers" equipped with the capability to take charge of air combat are "early warning control aircraft". This issue deals with "early warning aircraft" and "early warning control aircraft" and presents representative aircraft with examples. The model kits: AD-4W "Skyraider" (SWD, 1:72); Fairey Gannet AEW.3 (SWD, 1:72); Avro Shackleton AEW.3 (Revell, 1:72); EC-121 "Warning Star" (Revell 1:144); Boeing E-3 "Sentry" (Heller, 1:72); Boeing E-767 J-WACS (Hasegawa, 1:200); Boeing E-7 "Wedge Tail" (Hasegawa, 1:200).