NATO MUltimedia

NATO is modernising its fleet of AWACS surveillance aircraft, ensuring they continue to support the Alliance’s missions to 2035.

NATO and Boeing signed a contract in November 2019 to modernise the NATO AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) fleet, ensuring they continue to support the Alliance’s missions to 2035.

Often referred to as NATO’s ‘eyes in the sky’, the Boeing E-3A AWACS aircraft provide the Alliance with air surveillance, command and control, battle space management and communications. The fleet of 14 AWACS aircraft are based in Geilenkirchen, Germany. They conduct a wide range of missions such as air policing, support to counter-terrorism, evacuation operations and crisis response.

Footage includes shots of a standard AWACS aircraft, an AWACS aircraft painted to mark NATO’s 70th anniversary and interviews with key personnel based at the NATO Air Base in Germany.

1. (00:00) VARIOUS SHOTS – TURBINE ENGINE OF STATIONARY AWACS AIRCRAFT
2. (00:11) VARIOUS SHOTS – RADAR DOME MOUNTED ON FUSELAGE OF STATIONARY AWACS AIRCRAFT
3. (00:31 ) VARIOUS SHOTS – FRONT, LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF STATIONARY AWACS AIRCRAFT
4. (00:39) VARIOUS SHOTS – NATO’S COMMEMORATIVE 70TH ANNIVERSARY AWACS AIRCRAFT IN HANGAR
5. (02:06) MID SHOT – RADAR OF STATIONARY AWACS AIRCRAFT
6. (02:09) VARIOUS SHOTS – AWACS AIRCRAFT TAKING OFF
7. (02:28) VARIOUS SHOTS – AWACS AIRCRAFT TAXIS DOWN RUNWAY
8. (02:41) VARIOUS SHOTS – STATIC SHOTS OF AWACS AIRCRAFT AT AIRBASE
9. (03:00) VARIOUS SHOTS – AWACS AIRCRAFT TAKING OFF, IN FLIGHT AND LANDING
10. (03:17) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – CAPTAIN TRENT RODRIGUEZ, AWACS PILOT

“So an AWACS is NATO’s ‘eye in the sky’. It provides surveillance in airborne battle management, similar to air traffic control in the sky.”

1. (03:27) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – CAPTAIN TRENT RODRIGUEZ, AWACS PILOT

“The AWACS is able to create a three-dimensional sphere of airspace 600 kilometres wide, so a 300-kilometre radius, and we are able to map all the movement within that airspace.”

1. (03:40) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – CAPTAIN TRENT RODRIGUEZ, AWACS PILOT

“The NATO AWACS is vital to supporting the counter-ISIS coalition. We are only flying in NATO airspace and we are providing the coalition an enhanced air picture to support their fight.”

1. (03:52) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – CAPTAIN TRENT RODRIGUEZ, AWACS PILOT

“So we’ve provided NATO our capability for the last 37 years and our mission is being extended until 2035, and we will continue to provide surveillance and air battle management as the threats evolve.”

1. (04:04) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – LIEUTENANT COLONEL GARY AXLEY, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

“So some of our unique capabilities on the aircraft obviously, as the rotodome contains a pulse Doppler, a beyond-the-horizon radar that rotates about six times a minute, so a 10-second scan rate. We use that for, not only air-to-air capabilities, but a maritime capability as well. So we can see surface vessels on the sea.”

1. (04:25) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – LIEUTENANT COLONEL GARY AXLEY, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

“We use that information to support the commanders, to enhance their situational awareness and to build a recognised air and surface picture within NATO’s AOR [Area of Responsibility].”
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