E-3 Sentry in Southwest Asia
Maintenance Airmen work on an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft during operations on the flightline at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia on Jan. 23, 2010. The E-3, assigned with the 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, is a modified Boeing 707/320 commercial airframe with a rotating radar dome that provides situational awareness of friendly, neutral and hostile activity, command and control of an area of responsibility, battle management of theater forces, all-altitude and all-weather surveillance of the battle space, and early warning of enemy actions during joint, allied, and coalition operations. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)