AEW

This page is dedicated to the Airborne Early Warning role  in the UK.

RAF AEW

When I was at RAF Kinloss the RAF were flying  Avro Shackleton AEW Mk II’s flying from RAF Lossiemouth with 8 Sqn.

On 30 April 1990 airframe WR965 crashed into a hill on the Isle of Harris whilst attempting to land at RAF Benbecula. All ten crew on board died in the crash.

The Squadron converted to the Boeing E3 Sentry shortly after moving to RAF Waddington. The first Sentry was handed over to the RAF on 26 March 1991

If you are an ex- 8 Sqn Member or have an interest in the RAF provision of AEW and would like to be an editor of the RAF AEW section, please contact: Neil White: 07977 915 965 / Email Form

RN AEW

The Fleet Arm Arm predominately operated Sea Kings (SKJ, SKW and Commando)  and the Sea Harrier duing my time on 206 Squadron.  The Royal Navy’s airborne early warning (AEW) capability had been lost when the Fairey Gannet aeroplane was withdrawn after the last of the RN’s fleet carriers was decommissioned in 1978. During the Falklands War, a number of warships were lost and casualties suffered due to the lack of an AEW platform. The proposed fleet cover by the RAF Shackleton AEW.2 was too unresponsive and at too great a distance to be practical. Consequently, two Sea King HAS2s were modified in 1982 with the addition of the Thorn-EMI ARI 5980/3 Searchwater (the Nimrod MR2 radar)  attached to the fuselage on a swivel arm and protected by an inflatable dome. This allowed the radar to be lowered below the fuselage during flight and for it to be raised for landing. These prototypes, designated HAS2(AEW), were both flying within 11 weeks and deployed with 824 “D” Flight on HMS Illustrious, serving in the Falklands after the cessation of hostilities. A further eight HAS2s were modified to a production standard, known as the AEW2. Two remained “fitted for but not with”. These entered operational service in 1985, being deployed by 849 Naval Air Squadron. ink 16 data link, allowing gathered radar information to be analysed and rapidly put to use by multiple allied platforms in range.

The radar was operated by RN Observers however screen set up and radar operation was completely different to how the RAF AEOp(R)’ s operated the Searchwater on the Nimrod having a sector scan approach as opposed to the 270 degree scan of the Nimrod. 

If you are ex-Fleet Air Arm or have an interest in the RN provision of AEW and would like to be an editor of the RN AEW section, please contact: Neil White: 07977 915 965 / Email Form