Airborne early warning and control: Difference between revisions

Modern AEW&C systems can detect aircraft from up to {{convert|400|km|nmi|abbr=on}} away, well out of range of most surface-to-air missiles. One AEW&C aircraft flying at {{convert|9000|m|abbr=on}} can cover an area of {{convert|312000|km2|abbr=on}}. Three such aircraft in overlapping orbits can cover the whole of [[Central Europe]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_publications/20120103_awacs-e.pdf |title=AWACS: Nato's eyes in the sky |publisher=Nato }}</ref> AEW&C system indicates close and far proximity range on threats and targets, help extend the range of their sensors, and make offensive aircraft harder to track by avoiding the need for them to keep their own radar active, which the enemy can detect, in order to detect threats. Systems also communicate with friendly aircraft, vectoring fighters towards hostile aircraft or any flying unidentified object. communicate with friendly aircraft, vectoring fighters towards hostile aircraft or any flying unidentified object, providing data on threats and targets, help extend their sensor range and make offensive aircraft more difficult to track, since they no longer need to keep their own radar active (which can be detected by the enemy) to detect threats.