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  • 552nd Air Control Wing posturing for BMC2 evolution during Agile Thunder

    The 552nd Air Control Wing concluded Agile Thunder, a readiness exercise at Tinker Air Force Base, Hill AFB, and Mountain Home AFB Aug. 14-25, 2023. Agile Thunder is a two-week exercise providing the units a chance to demonstrate operational readiness and agility while generating, employing, and

  • 552nd ACW Bids Farewell to First AWACS

    Airmen from the 552nd Air Control Wing gathered to bid farewell to aircraft 0560, during an event commemorating the aircraft’s rich history March 31. Aircraft 0560 is the first E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning Air Control System aircraft to retire from the fleet this year. The final destination for

  • Total Force Integration; proving we are stronger together

    The 552nd Air Control Wing recently underwent a health assessment of its Total Force Integration efforts with the Reserve’s 513th Air Control Group. The Total Force Assessment, completed by Headquarters Air Force Directorate of Total Force Integration, was a multi-day deep dive into the relationship

  • Whales & Tales

    It’s not every day you get the opportunity to shadow the crew of an E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System Aircraft. During Red Flag 22-1 my colleague, Meagan Hannon, and I had the chance to experience a day in the life of a 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron member. The advanced aerial exercise

  • 552nd ACW Airmen display skills at Red Flag

    Members of the 552nd Air Control Wing have been putting their critical combat training skills on display on the ground and in skies over Nevada at Red Flag 21-3. Crews from the 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron joined the more than 2,000 participants from 17 states representing the Air Force,

  • ISR platforms level-up in Agile Combat Employment capstone

    Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance platforms assigned to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing conducted rapid airpower movements in support of a U.S. Air Forces Central Agile Combat Employment capstone event from Feb. 28 to March 4.

  • From flip phone to smart phone: AWACS gets an upgrade

    The first fully qualified crew under the new crew design for the E-3 G Airborne Warning and Control System reached their deployment location in September 2020. The first fully qualified crew under the new crew design for the E-3 G Airborne Warning and Control System reached their deployment location

  • Exercise SENTRY REX: More robust than ever

    Joint-service exercise, SENTRY REX 20-3, was back for its third iteration and was more robust than ever. Units and assets involved in the exercise included E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft from Tinker Air Force Base, Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System aircraft

  • Air Battle Managers: Offensive Coordinators of the U.S. Air Force

    In Oklahoma many are aware that Tinker Air Force Base is home to the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft with the giant roto-dome; many, however, are unaware that this aircraft has a specific role in the Air Force that is like no other – an Air Battle Manager.An ABM is a rated officer

  • AWACS pilot makes history as Red Flag mission commander

    RED FLAG 20-1 marked a significant milestone for the 960th Airborne Air Control Squadron when Capt. Preston Radford, an instructor pilot for the E-3 Sentry Air Warning and Control System, was selected to serve as mission commander for one of the daily exercises. While RED FLAG has been operating out

  • DRAGON heads south for summer

    Pilots flew an upgraded E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft across the international date line and into the southern hemisphere in late July. The flights prove a $1.05 aircraft billion upgrade, called DRAGON, is worthy of long-haul, international flights and ensures the

  • 380th AEW AWACS provide big picture to combatant commanders

    Imagine a pilot flying their aircraft in theater. While the pilot has onboard sensors downloading, processing, and providing a lot of information during the flight, their systems have limited range.Staff Sgt. Joshua Payne, 968th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron senior surveillance

  • 552nd ACW Fuel Systems Creates New Tool in 12 Hours

    “What’s the game plan,” said the Accessories Flight Chief. “Well sir I do not think you are going to like it… we are going to have to do something that has never been done before,” replied Tech. Sgt. Marquis Gaines.