Boeing E-3D Sentry ZH 104Brief Description of Boeing E-3D Sentry ZH 104 shown in photograph: The Boeing E-3D Sentry ZH 104 aircraft that operate as a military surveillance aircraft providing all-weather surveillance command, control and communications to air defence forces which include the United Kingdom, United States of America, Saudi Arabia, France and NATO. The Boeing E-3D Sentry ZH 104 is manufactured by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. In actual fact the E-3D Sentry ZH 104 is described as an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. The E-3D Sentry ZH 104 is powered by eight General Electric TF34 engines and can fly to an height of 29,000ft, a height from which the aircraft can operate. It's main role is to detect and report on potentially hostile aircraft at all altitudes. The E-3D Sentry then directs air defence fighters towards the threat using Joint Tactical Information Data System which is a data link system that provides the pilot with a state of affairs report of what other pilots and surveillance aircraft like the E-3D Sentry are observing. With its radar rotating rotodome system located above the fuselage the Boeing E-3D Sentry ZH 100 aircraft can detect detect low flying aircraft, over land, which was previously undetectable due to ground clutter. To increase the range of the E-3D ZH 100 aircraft is fitted with a dual in-flight refuelling system. The aircraft exploit an overall crew of 17, its flight crew consists of two pilots, a navigator and a flight engineer. Mission crew consists of a tactical director with weapons and surveillance teams, three technicians and one communications operator! | |
