Photo By Senior Airman Johnny Diaz | A U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry assigned to the 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron taxis...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Sweeping through the lower stratosphere of the unforgiving Alaska region, the U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry quietly keeps watch. Often described as a flying command center, the E-3 navigates the skies, its distinctive radar dome cutting through the clouds, serving as a critical tool in our nation’s defense strategy.
As Red Flag 26-1 kicks off with a majority of fighters conducting exercises at Eielson Air Force Base, crews from the 960th, 961st, and 962nd airborne air control squadrons provide critical support from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
“We’ll set up our orbit and provide control to the fighters, but we also have passive identification that we can do,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Michael Dunlap, 961st AACS E-3 pilot. “That comes into play with near-peer and peer threats, being able to provide some data to intel on current dispositions and movements we can see from our plane.”
Through countless operations, exercises or real-world, the E-3 has cemented its role as a cornerstone of command and control. From its airborne vantage point, it delivers unmatched situational awareness to commanders, aircrews, and allied forces. Through the detection, identification and tracking of every movement in the airspace, the E-3 creates a comprehensive, real-time picture that ground-based systems alone cannot achieve.
“We’re the premier platform, the premier unit for Red Flag, just due to the fact that we have so much responsibility in our AOR [area of responsibility],” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nathaniel Leachman, 962 AACS E-3 expediter. “They use our platform to coordinate with Eielson, coordinate with fighters and whatever else happens to be in the area for Red Flag.”
The E-3’s range extends far beyond U.S. borders, providing early warning and ensuring any potential adversary is met with speed and precision. Its crew, a coordinated team of operators and specialists, transforms raw data into actionable intelligence, directly influencing real-time decision-making at every level of command.
Experimentation during Red Flag-Alaska helps us identify the training, equipment, and capabilities the Joint Force requires to operate in the Arctic and other challenging environments, ensuring U.S. forces can defend the homeland against a variety of threats.
“Including the Alaska region, we contribute a lot to the Alaska [North American Aerospace Defense Command] region and that focuses on homeland defense, specifically on any kind of ADIZ [air defense identification zone] incursion that surrounds most countries,” said Dunlap. “Anytime there’s long-range aviation that is testing response times, we’re there to coordinate fighter response as well.”
Though its mission remains consistent worldwide, the flexibility of the E-3 allows it to seamlessly operate under different combatant commanders, adapting to the needs of any theater. Whether supporting homeland defense under the Alaskan NORAD Region or contributing to global military operations, its role remains unchanged: provide command, control, and clarity to a complex operating environment.
“E-3 is one of the most important missions up here. Usually used by NORAD for ANR-specific tasks where, if they need us to go up, we’re on alert,” said Leachman. “We’re always on the top of the list to be set up and see what’s going on around us and notify the airspace.”
Defending the homeland is a core mission for U.S. military forces. During Red Flag-Alaska, crews actively train and ensure our forces are prepared to defend against significant, persistent threats from multiple domains and avenues of approach.
As rapid response and timely information become more valuable, the E-3 Sentry remains a powerful watchguard in the sky, detecting the unseen, guiding our forces, and ensuring America and its allies are always ahead of the fight.
| Date Taken: | 04.24.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 04.27.2026 12:58 |
| Story ID: | 563588 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 15 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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