Testing on the first production E-3 began in October 1975. Both radars used pulse-Doppler technology, with Westinghouse's design emerging as the contract winner. After issuing preliminary development contracts to three companies, the USAF picked Boeing to construct two airframes to test Westinghouse Electric and Hughes's competing radars. Air Force (USAF) was seeking an aircraft to replace its piston-engined Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star, which had been in service for over a decade. Production ended in 1992 after 68 aircraft had been built. The E-3 has a distinctive rotating radar dome (rotodome) above the fuselage. Derived from the Boeing 707 airliner, it provides all-weather surveillance, command, control, and communications, and is used by the United States Air Force, NATO, French Air and Space Force, Royal Saudi Air Force and Chilean Air Force. E-3s are commonly known as AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System). The Boeing E-3 Sentry is an American airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft developed by Boeing.
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