AWACS
Airborne surveillance system
AWACS stands for Airborne Warning and Control System—a military radar system mounted on aircraft that can detect other aircraft, ships, and vehicles at long range.
The modified Boeing 707s or similar planes serve as flying command centers, coordinating air operations and providing early warning of incoming threats: The AWACS spotted enemy fighters two hundred miles out.
High-bypass aircraft engine
Broadcast signal receiver
- lookdownSilvery Caribbean reef fish
- transponderSignal-activated transmitter
- beamwidthAntenna radiation spread
- azimuthHorizontal directional angle
elevation · frequency · waveguide · return · sweep · detection
Information-gathering before action
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- patrolRegular surveillance route
- overwatchProtective surveillance position
standoff · long-range · orbit
Communication channel for transmitting information
- network-centricCentered on interconnected systems
- deconflictionPreventing simultaneous interference
- communicationsExchange of information
- real-timeOccurring without processing delay
turbofan
High-bypass aircraft engine
antenna
Broadcast signal receiver
- lookdownSilvery Caribbean reef fish
- transponderSignal-activated transmitter
- beamwidthAntenna radiation spread
azimuth · elevation · frequency · waveguide · return · sweep · detection
reconnaissance
Information-gathering before action
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- patrolRegular surveillance route
overwatch · standoff · long-range · orbit
datalink
Communication channel for transmitting information
- network-centricCentered on interconnected systems
- deconflictionPreventing simultaneous interference
- communicationsExchange of information
- Air Forcesair force, US Air Force, Luftwaffe, RAF, squadrons
- aircraftairplane, airliner, airplanes, plane, biplane
- Military HardwareMirage, frigate, destroyer, submarine, howitzer
- Aerial Reconnaissancespy plane, spy planes, U-2, SR-71, reconnaissance flight
- Air Forceflying officer, squadron leader, wing commander, group captain, air marshal
- air patrolpatrol, combat air patrol, routine patrol, coastal patrol, night patrol
AWACSfighter jet
Armed military aircraft
bomber · attack aircraft · interceptor · F-22 Raptor · fighter