airborne warning and control system

AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System)

Mobile, long-range radar surveillance-and-control centre for air defense. Used by the U.S. Air Force since 1977, AWACS is mounted in a specially modified Boeing 707 aircraft, with its main radar antenna affixed to a rotating dome. It can detect, track, and identify low-flying aircraft at a distance of 200 nautical mi (370 km) and high-level targets at much greater distances. It can also track maritime traffic and operate in any weather. The computer system can assess enemy action and track the location and availability of any aircraft within range. Operators of its secure communications system can guide friendly aircraft against enemy planes.

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airborne warning and control system [′er‚bȯrn ′wȯrn·iŋ an kən′trōl ‚sis·təm]

(ordnance)

A U.S. Air Force program that uses airborne radar to detect low-flying enemy aircraft and high-altitude attacking bombers and to provide associated command and control functions for strategic interceptor forces. Abbreviated AWACS.