AEW&CAEW&C is a short form for airborne early warning and control system. The system is an airborne radar picket with function to detect aircrafts, ships and vehicles from long distances and gives command and control to the air unit especially fighter aircraft for strike and interception. Beside that AEW&C unit also have function to carry out surveillance over the air, ground and sea together with performing command, control and battle management. The system function almost similar to the ground based radar with the difference it operate over the air and can detect and track target in more longer range mostly up to 400 km away. The first AEW&C aircraft was Vickers Wellington ACI(serial R1629) fitted with a rotating antenna array first flight flying in 1944.

The AEW&C radar system was further expended through research and development by the US Navy in February 1944 and introduce into service in March 1945 as first carrier based AEW&C aircraft.

After World War 2 many countries have developed AEW&C system through active research and development. Many systems have been introduced into service. Some countries introduce more than one AEW&C system. Current AEW&C systemsNorthrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye.

Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye twin-turboprop aircraft nickname Hummer entered into service in 1965 and operates from land base and aircraft carrier. The system being operated by 8 countries around the world and US armed forces was the major user of the system. Up to date there is 276 aircraft system had been built and the production still running with the latest fourth version E-2D Advance Hawkeye. The E-2D provides all-weatherairborne early warningandcommand and controlcapabilities and using operate APY-9 active electronically scanned array(AESA) rotating dome radar. Currently the system is one of candidates for Royal Malaysian Air Force AEW&C programme.

Boeing E-3 Sentry.

Commonly known as E-3 AWACS stand for Airborne Warning and Control System provide it provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications. The AWACS system being used by US, Japan, Arab Saudi, French, United Kingdom and NATO. The system use AN/PY-1 or An/PY-2 passive electronically scanned array(PESA) rotor dome radar to provide surveillance from the stratosphere to the earth surface over the land and water. The radar with look down capability able to detect, identify and track the targets with a range from 400km to 650km depending on the operating altitude of the targets aircraft.

Ilyushin Il-76/Beriev A-50 Mainstay

Beriev A-50 introduce into service in 1984 widely use by Russian Armed Forces, China Armed Forces and Indian Armed Forces. The aircraft use Vega-M radar produce by NPO Vega capable of tracking up to 50 targets simultaneously within 230km. However large targets like can be tracked from 450km distance. The aircraft operate by 15 mission personnel and capable of flying up to 4 hours at 1,000km from the main base. A-50 also able to control up to 10 fighters aircraft simultaneously for air and ground attack mission. The system had been upgraded recently with new Vega Premier active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and known as Beriev A-100 AEW&C.

Saab Erieye.

Erieye system developed by a Swedish base company SAAB Electronic Defence System( Formerly known as Ericsson Microwave System). The Erieye radar is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar that can be fitted on variety of aircraft platform such as Embraer E-99,EMB-145, Saab S100B Argus(Saab 340) and Saab 2000. The system use fixed antenna mounted on the top of the aircraft where the radar beam is electronically scanned with improved detection and significantly enhanced tracking performance compared to with radar rotor-dome antenna systems. The aircraft capable to detection range up to 450km with typical detection range against fighter sized aircraft targets 425km. The system had been used by 8 countries including Sweden, Thailand, UAE, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Greece and Brazil. Currently the system is one of candidates for Royal Malaysian Air Force AEW&C programme.Helicopter AEW&C systems.There is also AEW&C system have been tested and designed to operate from the helicopter. The helicopter AEW&C systems usually operate from aircraft carrier and there are 3 systems currently in service which is Sea King ASaC7, Kamov Ka-31 and Agusta Westland EH-101A AEW.

Royal Malaysia Air Force AEW&C Programme.Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) has essential requirement for eight units however due to expensive price of the aircraft its likely only two to four AEW&C to cover Malaysia battle space around the clock. The programme had been sought under 7th Malaysia Plan and until today no decision had been made by the government. At one time there is an ongoing process to acquired E-3 Sentry AWACS from United State under the close deal but due to the leakage of information to the public, the deal had been cancelled. Currently two countries in South East Asia had AEW&C system. Singapore had acquired 4 units E-2C Hawkeye and had retired the assets.

The Hawkeye had been replaced by 4 units Gulfstream 550 withIAI/ELTA EL/M-2085Active Electronically Scanned Array(AESA) system in Singapore inventory. Thailand had acquired 2 units Erieye system also had been acquired by the Royal Thai Air Force mounted on Saab S100 B Argus aircraft.

Erieye and Hawkeye system had been considered by the RMAF under AEW&C programme. With currently MADGE radar system just go online and combine with other RMAF sophisticated and extensive ground defence radars to monitor the country air space its unknown the Malaysia government will still considered whether RMAF need the AEW&C systems to supplement the current air defence radar coverage as until today no decision funding had been approved by the government despite there is strong case by the RMAF to acquire the assets to protect and strengthen the sovereignty of the country.