Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago
AWACS: The Eyes in the Sky – A History of Airborne Early Warning Aircraft
From the earliest airborne radar tests in WWII to today’s cutting-edge E-7 Wedgetail, this documentary traces the evolution of airborne early warning systems—platforms that have quietly revolutionized modern air combat.
Often operating in the background, AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft provide critical battlespace awareness, guide fighters into position, and serve as airborne command posts in high-intensity conflicts. This video explores the platforms, technologies, and doctrines that have defined this vital but underappreciated capability.
Topics covered:
• Early airborne radar experiments with the RAF’s Vickers Wellington
• U.S. Navy’s Operation Cadillac and the first radar-equipped Avengers
• Lockheed’s EC-121 Warning Star and its pivotal role in Vietnam
• The introduction and refinement of the carrier-capable E-1 Tracer and E-2 Hawkeye
• The Cold War arms race in AEW technology: Tu-126, Nimrod AEW.3, Beriev A-50
• Boeing E-3 Sentry and the formalization of the AWACS role
• Desert Storm and the E-3’s coordination of massive air operations
• The rise of modern AEW doctrine: datalinks, AI, and integrated sensor networks
• Russia, China, and Japan’s current AEW capabilities: A-50, KJ-500, E-767
• The development and operational history of the RAAF’s E-7 Wedgetail
• Future shifts in doctrine and the global trend toward replacing legacy AWACS with E-7 platforms
The RAAF’s E-7 Wedgetail—designed to meet Australia’s unique geostrategic needs—is now influencing global procurement, with the U.S., U.K., and NATO moving to adopt it. This video provides the full historical context behind this evolution and how Australia’s airborne warning capability has come to lead the world.
CONTENTS
00:00 Intro
01:13 Early History
03:49 Vickers Wellington
05:14 PO-1W
05:51 Vietnam War
06:23 Tu-126
06:40 E-1 Tracer E-2 Hawkeye
08:01 AWACS strategy in Vietnam
10:55 1970s
13:22 Today
15:18 E-7 Wedgetail
Corrections:
16:39 In the UK, the E-7 Mk1 is now the RAF’s successor to the E-3D Sentry
Please consider supporting this channel by purchasing our merchandise at https://peacemaker.fashion
Transcripts and discussion can be found at our Substack militaryaviationvideos.substack.com
_____________ Disclaimer _____________
Original footage and recreated scenes (using DCS, War Thunder, etc) may not be 100% accurate to the event being described but has been used for dramatic effect. This is because there may not have been original footage of a particular event available, or copyright prevents us from showing it. Our aim is to be as historically true as we can be given the materials available.
Copyright disclaimer under fair dealing sections ss 40/103C, ss 41/103A,ss 42/103B of the Copyright Act which includes research, study, criticism, review, and reporting of news. Copyright remains with the respective owners. These videos are made for educational purposes only.
The Australian Military Aviation History Association is a not-for-profit association with the intent of recording, preserving and promoting Australian military aviation history.
AWACS: The Eyes in the Sky – A History of Airborne Early Warning Aircraft
From the earliest airborne radar tests in WWII to today’s cutting-edge E-7 Wedgetail, this documentary traces the evolution of airborne early warning systems—platforms that have quietly revolutionized modern air combat.
Often operating in the background, AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft provide critical battlespace awareness, guide fighters into position, and serve as airborne command posts in high-intensity conflicts. This video explores the platforms, technologies, and doctrines that have defined this vital but underappreciated capability.
Topics covered:
• Early airborne radar experiments with the RAF’s Vickers Wellington
• U.S. Navy’s Operation Cadillac and the first radar-equipped Avengers
• Lockheed’s EC-121 Warning Star and its pivotal role in Vietnam
• The introduction and refinement of the carrier-capable E-1 Tracer and E-2 Hawkeye
• The Cold War arms race in AEW technology: Tu-126, Nimrod AEW.3, Beriev A-50
• Boeing E-3 Sentry and the formalization of the AWACS role
• Desert Storm and the E-3’s coordination of massive air operations
• The rise of modern AEW doctrine: datalinks, AI, and integrated sensor networks
• Russia, China, and Japan’s current AEW capabilities: A-50, KJ-500, E-767
• The development and operational history of the RAAF’s E-7 Wedgetail
• Future shifts in doctrine and the global trend toward replacing legacy AWACS with E-7 platforms
The RAAF’s E-7 Wedgetail—designed to meet Australia’s unique geostrategic needs—is now influencing global procurement, with the U.S., U.K., and NATO moving to adopt it. This video provides the full historical context behind this evolution and how Australia’s airborne warning capability has come to lead the world.
CONTENTS
00:00 Intro
01:13 Early History
03:49 Vickers Wellington
05:14 PO-1W
05:51 Vietnam War
06:23 Tu-126
06:40 E-1 Tracer E-2 Hawkeye
08:01 AWACS strategy in Vietnam
10:55 1970s
13:22 Today
15:18 E-7 Wedgetail
Corrections:
16:39 In the UK, the E-7 Mk1 is now the RAF’s successor to the E-3D Sentry
Please consider supporting this channel by purchasing our merchandise at https://peacemaker.fashion
Transcripts and discussion can be found at our Substack militaryaviationvideos.substack.com
_____________ Disclaimer _____________
Original footage and recreated scenes (using DCS, War Thunder, etc) may not be 100% accurate to the event being described but has been used for dramatic effect. This is because there may not have been original footage of a particular event available, or copyright prevents us from showing it. Our aim is to be as historically true as we can be given the materials available.
Copyright disclaimer under fair dealing sections ss 40/103C, ss 41/103A,ss 42/103B of the Copyright Act which includes research, study, criticism, review, and reporting of news. Copyright remains with the respective owners. These videos are made for educational purposes only.
The Australian Military Aviation History Association is a not-for-profit association with the intent of recording, preserving and promoting Australian military aviation history.
