E-3 Sentry Poster - Airborne Warning & Control (AWACS)

The Boeing E-3 Sentry is the aircraft that invented the modern concept of airborne battle management. Built on a modified 707 airframe and dominated by the massive 30-foot rotating radar dome mounted above its fuselage, the E-3 can detect, track, and manage airborne operations over an area the size of France simultaneously, providing commanders with a real-time common operating picture that was simply impossible before its introduction. Entering service in 1977, the AWACS transformed how the United States and its NATO allies plan and execute air operations, nearly every major US air campaign since has been orchestrated at least in part from the E-3's mission crew compartment.

The Sentry's AN/APY-2 radar operates in pulse-Doppler mode, allowing it to detect targets at low altitude against the clutter of ground returns that defeats older radar types, a capability that proved decisive in the Gulf War, where E-3s directed over 120,000 coalition sorties and recorded over 40 hostile air contacts. NATO also operates its own fleet of E-3As. As of 2025, the Air Force is transitioning to the E-7A Wedgetail to eventually replace the aging E-3 fleet, but Sentries continue to fly operational missions as the transition proceeds. The E-3 represents over four decades of continuous airborne battle management capability.

Our prints are museum-quality posters made on thick matte paper. They add a wonderful accent to your room or office and are sure to brighten any environment.

• Paper thickness: 10.3 mil
• Paper weight: 189 g/m²
• Opacity: 94%
• ISO brightness: 104%
• Paper is sourced from Japan

We print your poster especially for you once you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Printing our posters on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction. Thank you for your understanding and making thoughtful purchasing decisions!