Polish and Romanian jets join NATO drills, boosting air defense
"Joint allied exercises strengthen cooperation and readiness to defend every inch of allied territory," reads the profile of the Polish Armed Forces General Staff on X, responding to photos published by NATO. These images show the actions of Polish F-16 fighters working alongside an AWACS allied aircraft.
NATO announced on X that allies from Poland and Romania are training together with the NATO AWACS aircraft during a mission, "enhancing interoperability and integration of allies." As NATO further explains, the armies are combining their advanced capabilities, demonstrating collective readiness and commitment to maintaining territorial integrity.
Additionally, these exercises are not the only instances where Polish forces are training with their NATO allies. For example, there's an Air Policing mission in Malbork, involving forces from the United Kingdom and Sweden. This is where allied Typhoon and Gripen fighters are stationed.
Reconnaissance Boeing E-3A Sentry
To clarify, in the context of the AWACS reconnaissance aircraft, known as the "flying radar," NATO possesses the Boeing E-3A Sentry aircraft, which is visible in the picture published during joint exercises with Polish fighters.
The Boeing E-3A typically operates at an altitude of 33,000 feet. At this height, a single aircraft can continuously monitor the airspace within a radius exceeding 250 miles, enabling the detection of even low-flying aircraft. According to official NATO data, the area within the range of its radars is 120,000 square miles.
The length of this aircraft is nearly 154 feet, with a wingspan exceeding 144 feet. The maximum takeoff weight of the Boeing E-3A Sentry is just under 326,000 pounds, while the cruising speed is about 373 mph. The range of this "flying radar" is approximately 5,800 miles.
