Boeing
E-3 Sentry (AWACS)
707-based airborne early warning and control aircraft with a rotating radome tracking hundreds of air and surface targets over a wide radius.
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-04
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Operator data not public
Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
- Max speed
Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance.
- 853 km/h Stronger than 70% of systems in its class
- Range
Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.
- 7,400 km Stronger than 71% of systems in its class
Specifications compiled from public Boeing and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-04.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS)? +
The Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS) has a maximum speed of 853 km/h.
What is the range of the Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS)? +
The Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS) has a maximum range of 7,400 km.