A USAF Boeing E-3 Sentry 81-0005 from the 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron based out of Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, has visited RAAF Base Williamtown in September as part of training activities with the RAAF’s No. 2 Squadron and No. 42 Wing, according to Defence.
This provided an opportunity for the RAAF and USAF to develop critical interoperability skills required in the modern battlespace.
“This trip allowed us to integrate with the RAAF. While we were concerned about limitations due to different operating procedures, the flight went better than expected and provided a great opportunity to build on partnership and international training.”
LTCOL Jeffrey Doyle, Assistant Director of Operations, USAF 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron
The Boeing E-3 Sentry was introduced in 1977. A military derivative of the Boeing 707, the E-3 Sentry has been in service with the United States, NATO, the United Kingdom, France, and Saudi Arabia. 68 aircraft were built in total.
The platform has seen consistent development since it’s introduction and the most recent variant, the E-3G with USAF Block 40/45 modifications involving a suite of hardware and software upgrades, achieved initial operational capability (IOC) in July 2015.
The E-3 Sentry was last spotted operating in Australia when based out of RAAF Base Amberley during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019.
