AWACS

AWACS
/ay"waks/, n.
a sophisticated detection aircraft, fitted with powerful radar and a computer, capable of simultaneously tracking and plotting large numbers of low-flying aircraft at much greater distances than is possible with ground radar.
[1965-70; A(irborne) W(arning) A(nd) C(ontrol) S(ystem)]

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▪ aircraft and military technology
abbreviation  of Airborne Warning And Control System,  

      a mobile, long-range radar surveillance and control centre for air defense. The system, as developed by the U.S. Air Force, is mounted in a specially modified Boeing 707 aircraft. Its main radar antenna is mounted on a turntable housed in a circular rotodome 9 m (30 feet) in diameter, elliptical in cross-section, and 1.8 m deep at its centre. The radar system can detect, track, and identify low-flying aircraft at a distance of 370 km (200 nautical miles) and high-level targets at much greater distances. It also can track maritime traffic, and it operates in any weather over any terrain. An airborne computer can assess enemy action and keep track of the location and availability of any aircraft within range. The communications system, enabling the control of friendly aircraft in pursuit of enemy planes, operates over a single channel, secure from enemy interception, that is also relatively immune to jamming because of its high speed.

      The first production-model AWACS entered service in 1977. The U.S. Air Force uses the AWACS, which it designates as E-3, as a command and control centre for units of its Tactical Air Command and also for command and control activity in its North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). NATO also uses the system.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • AWACS — ☆ AWACS or Awacs [ā′waks΄ ] n. [A(irborne) W(arning) A(nd) C(ontrol) S(ystem)] a system employing high flying reconnaissance aircraft equipped with a special radar system that can detect and track approaching aircraft, missiles, etc …   English World dictionary

  • AWACS — ● AWACS Abréviation américaine de Airborne Warning and Control System (système aéroporté de détection et de contrôle), système de surveillance électronique fondé sur l utilisation de radars mis en œuvre à bord d avions spécialisés ; avion muni de …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • AWACS — sigla ES ingl. Airborne Warning and Control System, sistemi aviotrasportati di preavviso e controllo …   Dizionario italiano

  • AWACS — 〈Abk. für engl.〉 Airborne Warning and Control System, von den USA entwickeltes Radarfrüherkennungssystem, das in Flugzeuge vom Typ Boeing 707 eingebaut wurde [Etym.: engl., eigtl. »(in der Luft befindliches) Bordwarn und Kontrollsystem«] …   Lexikalische Deutsches Wörterbuch

  • AWACS — n 1.) Airborne Warning and Control System a type of ↑radar used by special US military aircraft, which makes it possible for them to find out the position of enemy aircraft and the direction they are travelling in when they are still very far… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • AWACS — [ eı,wæks ] noun uncount Airborne Warning And Control System: an electronic system in military airplanes that tells pilots when other airplanes are attacking them …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • AWACS — 1966, acronym for Airborne Warning and Control Systems …   Etymology dictionary

  • AWACS — (Airborne Warning And Control System) airborne radar system which detects low flying aircraft; aircraft outfitted with such a system …   English contemporary dictionary

  • AWACS — Boeing E 3 Sentry der US Air Force Ein Airborne Early Warning and Control System (Abkürzung: AWACS) ist ein Flugzeug gestütztes Radarsystem, das zur Luftraumaufklärung und als Einsatzleitzentrale eingesetzt wird. Ein AWACS übernimmt die… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Awacs — Boeing E 3 Sentry der US Air Force Ein Airborne Early Warning and Control System (Abkürzung: AWACS) ist ein Flugzeug gestütztes Radarsystem, das zur Luftraumaufklärung und als Einsatzleitzentrale eingesetzt wird. Ein AWACS übernimmt die… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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