Mission

The Component's mission is to provide aircraft and trained aircrews to deliver a surveillance and/or control platform wherever and whenever directed by the NATO Airborne Early Warning Force Commander on behalf of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

Squadron Personnel

The E-3A Component’s three flying squadrons are structured essentially the same, yet each carries its own traditions and character. The squadrons operate the Component’s 17 E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.

Military personnel from 16 of the 17 E-3A Component participating countries man the Component’s squadrons. Most of the personnel are aircrew on the E-3A and a few work full time in support. Because of the complexities involved in running the squadron, every squadron member has more than one additional duty. These duties include everything from maintaining office supplies to managing various training programs. Other activities also require planning and personnel in order to be successful.

Crew

In order to operate the complex equipment on an AWACS, the E-3A has a crew of 16 drawn from a variety of branches, trades and nationalities, all of whom are extensively trained in their respective roles. The maximum crew the E-3A can accommodate is 29.
 

Flight Deck
 

The Aircraft Commander (AC) is the pilot in command and is responsible for the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.

Both pilots are fully qualified to operate the aircraft. Pilots ensure 'hands on' time is shared evenly. The First Pilot (FP) is also responsible for radio communication and the monitoring of navigation radio aids when not in control of the aircraft.

The Navigator (NN) duties include ensuring the aircraft reaches and maintains its orbit position, often in airspace giving little margin for error.

The Flight Engineer (FE) is responsible for monitoring the engine power and flight performance of the aircraft.
 

Mission Crew

The Tactical Director (TD) is responsible for the overall conduct of the mission as tasked by the operating authorities. He is the senior member of the mission crew and liaises directly with the operating authorities.

Surveillance Team

The Surveillance Controller (SC) who provides an optimum radar picture and operates the digital data links commands the surveillance team. Working for him are three Surveillance operators (SOs) and a Passive Controller (PC) who assist the SC to compile the recognized air and surface picture for transmission to the ground and other airborne units. The PC is responsible to enhance the air picture, ID procedures and E-3A self-protection through passive detection of emitters and platforms.

Weapons Team

The weapons team is headed by the Fighter Allocator (FA) who is responsible for the safe conduct of all aircraft, which have been allocated to the E-3A to control. His two Weapons Controllers (WCs) can control a wide variety of air missions including Offensive and Defensive Counter Air operations using fighters, Close Air Support and Battlefield Air Interdiction using bombers and a wide variety of operational support aircraft.

Because of the complexity of the on-board systems, the E-3A employs airborne technicians who initialize, monitor and provide basic maintenance of the highly sophisticated mission equipment:

The Communications Technicians (CT) initializes, manages and monitors the highly sophisticated on-board communication equipment.

The System Technician (ST) initializes, runs and maintains the on-board computer systems which are the heart of the mission equipment.

The Radar Technician (RT) runs the mission radar without which there would be no mission. He liaises with the SC and the ST to provide the best possible radar picture for the surveillance and weapons teams to work with.