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  • 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. As part of the FY23 President’s

  • 552nd ACW conducts aircraft weather flush exercise

    The 552nd Air Control Wing completed a weather flush exercise which tested E-3G Sentry pilots, associated air crews, maintainers, support squadrons and ultimately demonstrated their ability to react to a weather emergency at Tinker Air Force Base, March 21. Fourteen aircraft were generated to be

  • 552nd ACW E-3 Sentry aircraft conduct weather flush exercise

    E-3G Sentry aircraft assigned to the 552nd Air Control Wing line up on Runway 18 at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, March 21, 2023. The weather flush gives air crews, support squadrons and maintainers a chance to practice generating the E-3G Sentry to evacuate the area quickly in the event of a

  • 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 new crew design, introduced in 2016, was inspired by the Block 40/45 Modernization Program update to the E-3 AWACS weapons system. As the

  • 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

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

    TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – “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.This was the conversation that led to the creation of