Current Title:	NATO Airborne Early Warning Force
Title in English:	NATO Airborne Early Warning Force
Abbreviation:	NAEWF

Narrative Summary:
Luxembourg has a small army but no air force. NATO AWACS aircraft carry Luxembourg civil registrations to conform to international legal requirements. The NATO AEW force was created in 1980, and the first aircraft were delivered in 1982.

Key Dates:
1980		NAEWF established.
February 1982		First E-3A aircraft received.

Current Status:
NAEWF aircraft act as flying radar 'pickets' to detect aircraft at much longer distances than ground-based radar can operate. Crews are drawn from the members of NATO and are usually of mixed nationalities.

Future Plans:
Establishment of NATO Strategic Airlift Capability (NSAC) to operate three Boeing C-17A Globemaster IIIs from Papa in Hungary.
Possible creation of a squadron of Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) aircraft, operating a fleet of manned and unmanned airborne radar platforms in the same role as the Boeing E-8 JSTARS.

National Insignia:

          Main markingFin Flash
The main marking is carried on the fin of all NATO AEW force aircraft. The NATO insignia (four-pointed star) is used as a fuselage marking. Aircraft carry 'NATO + OTAN' service titles.

Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):
NAEWF aircraft carry a five-digit serial based on the USAF serial or construction number, prefixed by the letters LX-N, eg: 707TCA LX-N19997.

Unit/Base Aircraft Code System(s):
Coding system not used

Aircraft Designation System(s):
The 707TCA aircraft were formally designated CT-49A in 2003.

Current Aircraft Inventory:

Aircraft Type	Total Del'd	Total Now	Role	Origin
Boeing 707TCA	5	3	Training/Cargo	USA
Boeing E-3A Sentry	18	17	AWACS	USA

All-Time Aircraft Used List:

Aircraft Type	Quantity	Service Entry	Retirement	Origin
Boeing 707TCA	5	1988	current	USA/Luftwaffe
Boeing E-3A Sentry	18	1982	current	USA

Aircraft NOT Used:
False reports of aircraft on order or in service - none known.

Main Headquarters:
Geilenkirchen, Germany.

Current Organisational Structure:
NAEWF is organised into four squadrons, which operate from four main bases and several forward bases. Crew training is performed by No.4 Squadron.

Current Order of Battle:

Squadron	Type	Base
1 Squadron	E-3A Sentry	Geilenkirchen, Germany (main)
2 Squadron	E-3A Sentry	Geilenkirchen, Germany (main)
3 Squadron	E-3A Sentry	Geilenkirchen, Germany (main)
4 Squadron	E-3A, 707TCA	Geilenkirchen, Germany (main)

Forward Operating Bases: Previza, Greece; Trapani/Birgi, Italy; Konya, Turkey.
Forward Operating Locations: Oerland, Norway.

Historical Orders of Battle:
Not applicable.

All-Time Flying Units List:
Not applicable.

Current Air Bases:
See current order of battle.

All-Time Air Bases Used List:
Not applicable.

Books:

To be added.

Magazines:

To be added.

Websites:

Official NATO AWACS Website

airliners.net

Target Lock: Boeing E-3 Sentry NATO