Since at least the Vietnam War, an increasingly critical element of air combat has been the radar early warning system. As air combat evolved, engagement distances grew larger, and thus the necessity of accurate radar returns and warnings became just as important as sharp eyes. Today, radars and warning receivers are arguably the most important tools in air combat; great radars potentially reveal the most advanced stealth aircraft, and warning sensors alert the pilots to threats they cannot visually identify – you cannot succeed nor survive in the modern battlespace without these systems. The ultimate radar package comes in the form of the Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, or AEWs. Often overlooked by the public, AEW crews often play a critical role in the outcome of air engagements, assisting pilots in the same way as ground controllers once did. Today, we look back at the history of AEW aircraft – or AWACS as people often refer to them – all the way up to our own RAAF’s E-7 Wedgetail, arguably the most advanced platform on the market today. CONTENTS00:00 Intro01:13 Early History03:49 Vickers Wellington05:14 PO-1W05:51 Vietnam War06:23 Tu-12606:40 E-1 Tracer E-2 Hawkeye08:01 AWACS strategy in Vietnam10:55 1970s13:22 Today15:18 E-7 WedgetailCorrections:16:39 In the UK, the E-7 Mk1 is now the RAF’s successor to the E-3D Sentry