AWACS/EW/MP Aircraft Ideas

[Iranian F-14A]

Recently,I've become really interested in AWACS,EW and maritime patrol aircraft for profiles.The main aircraft and countries I hope to focus on are the following:

E-1B Tracer-Argentina,Australia,Brazil,Canada,Germany,Netherlands,Taiwan
E-2C Hawkeye-Argentina,Germany,Pakistan,UAE,UK
E-3C Sentry-Australia,Canada,Germany
E-8B J-Stars-?
EC-130V Hercules-Iran,Taiwan
P-8A-Argentina,Canada,Germany,Taiwan,
E-737 Wedgetail-South Korea,Turkey (both not really whiffs,but should look good) and the USCG
E-767-?


I also had some ideas for some AWACS models of the BAe-146,DHC Dash-7 and C-141.

So,any suggestions on possible customers or other platforms would be welcome.

Heres a little of what is ahead,an E-1B Tracer from Argentina.

[GTX]

Iranian,

You could also add the P-3 AEW Orion to your list of possibles.  This was developed using ex-Royal Australian Air Force and US Navy P-3B airframes, combined with the APS-125 Radar and Mission System (later retrofitted with an APS-138 system) from the United States Navy E-2 Hawkeye carrier-borne AEW&C aircraft.  Possible users could start with the RAAF.

See here:





Regards,

Greg

[Son of Damian]

Isreal operates the E-2C Hawkeye

[Lord Darth Beavis]

Howzabout an EB-24 or EB-29?  

What about an RVNAF EC-121 Warning Star?  

Or a DPRKAF/PLAAF AEW Bear?  Or are those real aircraft?

NORAD EC-141 AWACS!

NATO EC-5 AWACS!  It could control the entire northern hemisphere!

[GTX]

There was a EB-29 ...essentially.  It was the Chinese Tu-4 variant:



There is also this.

Regards,

Greg

[GTX]

Can't help with the EB-24, but I do have a pic of a similar B-17 except it was called a PB-1W and was operated by the USN (sorry for the poor scan - the pic was in a Magazine):



Regards,

Greg

[jcf]

E-737 Wedgetail-South Korea,Turkey (both not really whiffs,but should look good) and the USCG

To be pedantic its the 737 AEW&C, not E- anything, only the RAAF version is correctly named "Wedgetail" and the Turkish version is the "Peace Eagle". As for the Koreans??

Cheers, Jon (former Boeing IDS electrical engineering on Wedgetail)

[elmayerle]

Recently,I've become really interested in AWACS,EW and maritime patrol aircraft for profiles.The main aircraft and countries I hope to focus on are the following:

E-1B Tracer-Argentina,Australia,Brazil,Canada,Germany,Netherlands,Taiwan
E-2C Hawkeye-Argentina,Germany,Pakistan,UAE,UK
E-3C Sentry-Australia,Canada,Germany
E-8B J-Stars-?
EC-130V Hercules-Iran,Taiwan
P-8A-Argentina,Canada,Germany,Taiwan,
E-737 Wedgetail-South Korea,Turkey (both not really whiffs,but should look good) and the USCG
E-767-?


I also had some ideas for some AWACS models of the BAe-146,DHC Dash-7 and C-141.

So,any suggestions on possible customers or other platforms would be welcome.

Heres a little of what is ahead,an E-1B Tracer from Argentina.

You also need to do the upgraded E-1T "Turbo-Tracer" done in parallel with their S-2T "Turbo-Tracker" wherein turboprops replace the radials and the equipment fit is updated.  For 1/72 modelling purposes, I believe at least one South American hobby shop carries the conversion kit for the S-2T.

[dragon]

I am shocked that no one has mentioned this yet...

A-380 set up as either an AWACS or J-Star in NATO service.
AN-225 set up similarly.

[Matt Wiser]

The Lockheed P-7 was a super P-3, with enlarged airframe, larger wings, and improved engines. Cancelled in 1990-91. West Germany had ordered a dozen as Atlantic replacements.
As for the E-767, the ROK has evaled the system. A continued Imperial Iran might have looked at it as an E-3 replacement.
E-8B: Imperial Iran.
Just about any P-3 operator is a potential P-8 customer.

[Son of Damian]

In Tragerflotten: The Kriegsmarine's Carrier Fleets and Their Aircraft in World War Two by John Baxter (Here and here) the Germans develop a carrier based AWACs version of the Siebel Si 204, designated the Si 204ME-1. If you want more info I could look it up in the Tragerflotten Data Book for you, Here and here

[Bryan H.]

The SP-2 Neptune would be a great platform for these tasks.  Just make some important modernizations (engines, avionics, electronics, etc.), reopen the production line and produce the three or four) variants.  I'd probably go for two of those C-27J/C-130J engines (IIRC, they're AE1100's w/Dowdy props); I'm not sure what kind of small jet engine would replace the old podded jet engines.  I'd also keep the glass nose just because it's cool.

AWACS EP-2 Neptune equipped with that SAAB "Erieye" AWACS radar.  You could also give it some self-defense capability with Sidewinders or Stinger missiles.

EW RP-2 Neptune equipped with all sorts of secret ELINT/SIGINT gear and festooned with scores of antennae, sensors, bumps, lumps & fins.  The EW variant could also benefit from having some self-defense capability with Sidewinders or Stingers.

MP SP-2 Neptune equipped with modern search radar, MAD gear, sonobouys and other MP related electronics.  She'll need to be able to carry anti-sub & anti-ship torpedoes and mines.  I'd want it to have a strong anti-surface/anti-ship capability with Sea Eagle, Penguin & harpoon missiles.  I'd also want LGB/PGM's with self-designation capability.  Other weapons could include, Mavericks, cluster bombs, LDGP's, gunpods & unguided rockets.  I'd also want a little retro-touch by bringing back the topside gun turret (but armed with a .50 GECAL) and a fixed forward firing 30mm DEFA/ADEN on the side of the nose.  Like the previous two variants I'd want self-defense capability with Sidewinders or Stingers.

I'd also add a gunship variant to the list.

Gunship AP-2 Neptune equipped with a modern sensor & electronics outfit.  She'd need a modernized tail-gun position with a 25mm Gatling gun (the same kind as used in the AV-8B).  Underneath, I'd want a modified AH-1G style turret with a .50 GECAL & 40mm grenade launcher side by side.  You could probably also side-mount two .50 GECAL's "Spooky" style.  I'd also want LGB/PGM's with self-designation capability.  Other weapons would include cluster bombs, LDGP's, unguided rockets, Mavericks & gunpods.  Like all the others, I'd like it to have Sidewinders or Stingers.

Bryan

[Jschmus]

Or a DPRKAF/PLAAF AEW Bear?  Or are those real aircraft?

The Russians did build an AWACS platform based on the Tu-114 airliner (itself based on the Tu-95 bomber), the Tu-126 "Moss":



The radar was crude by today's standards, and the Moss was used to extend radar coverage for interceptors operating by GCI.  I don't see why they couldn't have been exported, especially to countries that later received the Il-76 "Mainstay".

EDIT: I have since re-looked at the link, and they were exported to India, and used in the war with Bangladesh in 1971.  But they could've been used by Iraq in the war with Iran.

[rallymodeller]

The SP-2 Neptune would be a great platform for these tasks.  Just make some important modernizations (engines, avionics, electronics, etc.), reopen the production line and produce the three or four) variants.  I'd probably go for two of those C-27J/C-130J engines (IIRC, they're AE1100's w/Dowdy props); I'm not sure what kind of small jet engine would replace the old podded jet engines.  I'd also keep the glass nose just because it's cool.

Sorta like the P-2J Kai?



2 T64 turboprops and 2 IHI J3 turbojets.  

[GTX]

I believe at least one South American hobby shop carries the conversion kit for the S-2T.

Evan,

What scale and who (if you know)?

Regards,

Greg