E-3 Sentry takes flight testing integration with Coalition forces

SOUTHWEST ASIA- Staff Sgt. Kalon Pang, 964th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron, checks his radar in flight during an exercise Aug. 21. Sergeant Pang brings a small stuffed lion with him on every flight, and intends on giving it to his son when he returns home. Sergeant Pang's son is not yet born, so he is saving the little stuffed lion to give it to him when he arrives in about three months. Sergeant Pang is deployed from Tinker AFB, Okla., and hails from Caguas, Puerto Rico.(U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stephen Linch)

E-3 Sentry takes flight testing integration with coalition forces

Published Aug. 27, 2009
By Senior Airman Stephen Linch
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs Office

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- An E-3 Sentry with a crew of 36 took to the sky for the second day of a two day exercise testing integration with coalition forces Aug. 20.

The E-3 Sentry is an airborne warning and control system, or AWACS, aircraft with an integrated command and control battle management, surveillance, target detection, and tracking platform. It 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.

The crew consisted of 17 aircrew members and 19 members of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, who were receiving an inside look at what battle management is about on the five hour flight.

"We are premier command and control battle management platform in the Air Force," said Capt. Kristen Thompson, 964th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron. "This exercise ensures we can integrate and work together with the other services and coalition forces."

The E-3 Sentry interacting with coalition forces ensures that ground forces are only a call away from help.

"Someone on the ground can call us, and we will find them an asset to provide them the air support they need," said Captain Thompson, the flight's aircraft commander. "The AWACS provides the C2 (command and control) that shortens the kill chain."

The guests aboard the E-3 Sentry received an in depth look at how the crew manages the battle space.

"It was great getting to see what the E-3 Sentry and its crew brings to the fight," said Staff Sgt. Heather Stephens, a guest on the flight from 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. "It can really make things happen."