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USAF, RSAF conduct integrated E-3 Sentry sorties

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kevin Dunkleberger
  • 378th Air Expeditionary Wing
U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY --  An integrated aircrew comprised of U.S. and Royal Saudi Air Force service members conducted two E-3 Sentry flying sorties aboard each nation’s aircraft, July 21 and 28, 2025.

“Our team spearheaded this project because we greatly appreciate any opportunity to engage with our partner nations,” said Lt. Col. Donald Williams, 960th EAACS director of operations. “Partner nation integration provides invaluable operational and strategic lessons for USAF members.”

The 960th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron assigned to the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing partnered with the RSAF 18 Squadron , as both squadrons operate variations of the E-3, also known as the AWACS, or Airborne Warning and Control System, which plays a critical role in airborne command and control across the CENTCOM AOR.

To integrate the squadrons, USAF and RSAF aircrew members were paired with their respective counterparts to explain differences in capabilities and system functions between their respective airframes. The USAF’s E-3G, operates a flight deck modification with a glass display, a mission crew system upgrade, and a modified mission crew construct that optimizes multi-function capability, while the RSAF’s E-3A, utilizes a legacy and traditional crew construct to optimize a Disk Operating System-based mission computing software.

“We learned two important lessons from this experience,” said Williams. “First, we learned how to build multi-national crews to provide integrated command and control, especially for defensive missions. Second, we learned how to clearly and concisely explain how the E-3G mission system operates, an important E-3 aircrew member competency.”

Continuous partner nation integrations like these support the United States’ commitment to regional stability and its position as the partner of choice within the AOR. Likewise, training alongside our RSAF counterparts fosters readiness, improves bilateral coordination, provides opportunities to share best practices, and strengthens bonds between forces during future operations to ensure maximum air power projection.