Abstract
The article highlights the importance of the systems on board the NATO E-3A platform and how they influence the mission and work of the aircrew. The E-3A is an Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) system designed to provide early warning information to battle managers through surveillance of airborne and maritime objects, and to provide aircraft control capabilities. Even though the system is integrated on the old airframe of Boeing 707, in the past 35 years there have been numerous upgrades. The biggest upgrade of them all is the conversion of the entire fleet of aircraft to the NATO Mid-Term (NMT) configuration and then to “glass cockpit”. Now, the fleet is embarking upon a final modernization effort to extend its service life to 2035.