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Description
In the 2020s, the Osean Air Defense Force found itself rapidly beginning to need a new AWACS platform. Their ancient E-3s were on their last legs, even after numerous service life extension plans and re-engining programs. The E-10 MC2A program, intended to replace the E-3 and E-8 JSTARS, had become bogged down in technical difficulties until it was finally cancelled in 2009.

With the Sentry's retirement date rapidly approaching, the Oseans partnered with Boeing to finally get to the task of devising a successor to the venerable AWACS platform. The Next-Gen AWACS, as the program was called, would attempt to solve the failings of the E-10 and in doing so replace the E-3 and E-8. Rather than use a 767 platform like the E-767 AWACS and the original E-10 concept, the NGAWACS would be based off of a 787-9 airframe.

It was decided that the aircraft would be fitted with an AN/APY-14 AESA radar in a large rotating radome mounted above the spine, providing much greater coverage than a fixed AESA antenna. To fulfill the surface surveillance role, an AN/APY-7 would be mounted in an under-fuselage canoe. In the years since the cancellation of the E-10 program, advances in technology had managed to solve the issue of electronic interference between the air-search radar and surface search radar. The enhanced power generation capabilities of the 787 airframe enabled both radars to be fitted at once, solving yet another issue of the E-10.

Advanced automation and sensor fusion technologies leveraged from the F-35 program were used to reduce crew workload, enabling a crew the size of that in the E-3 to handle discrimination and targeting of both air and ground targets without overloading the crew.

After a surprisingly rapid 5-year development cycle, accelerated due to the extensive use of off-the-shelf components, the first NGAWACS, officially designated the E-12 Sentinel by the Air Defense Force, was delivered to the 960th Airborne Air Control Squadron at Turner Air Force Base on August 6, 2027.

The aircraft displayed above wears the markings of the 960th AACS at Turner AFB, circa 2030.

The owners of the properties depicted herein maintain their respective rights.

Do not use this artwork without my express permission.

Description
In the 2020s, the Osean Air Defense Force found itself rapidly beginning to need a new AWACS platform. Their ancient E-3s were on their last legs, even after numerous service life extension plans and re-engining programs. The E-10 MC2A program, intended to replace the E-3 and E-8 JSTARS, had become bogged down in technical difficulties until it was finally cancelled in 2009.

With the Sentry's retirement date rapidly approaching, the Oseans partnered with Boeing to finally get to the task of devising a successor to the venerable AWACS platform. The Next-Gen AWACS, as the program was called, would attempt to solve the failings of the E-10 and in doing so replace the E-3 and E-8. Rather than use a 767 platform like the E-767 AWACS and the original E-10 concept, the NGAWACS would be based off of a 787-9 airframe.

It was decided that the aircraft would be fitted with an AN/APY-14 AESA radar in a large rotating radome mounted above the spine, providing much greater coverage than a fixed AESA antenna. To fulfill the surface surveillance role, an AN/APY-7 would be mounted in an under-fuselage canoe. In the years since the cancellation of the E-10 program, advances in technology had managed to solve the issue of electronic interference between the air-search radar and surface search radar. The enhanced power generation capabilities of the 787 airframe enabled both radars to be fitted at once, solving yet another issue of the E-10.

Advanced automation and sensor fusion technologies leveraged from the F-35 program were used to reduce crew workload, enabling a crew the size of that in the E-3 to handle discrimination and targeting of both air and ground targets without overloading the crew.

After a surprisingly rapid 5-year development cycle, accelerated due to the extensive use of off-the-shelf components, the first NGAWACS, officially designated the E-12 Sentinel by the Air Defense Force, was delivered to the 960th Airborne Air Control Squadron at Turner Air Force Base on August 6, 2027.

The aircraft displayed above wears the markings of the 960th AACS at Turner AFB, circa 2030.

The owners of the properties depicted herein maintain their respective rights.

Do not use this artwork without my express permission.