Waddington 28 Sept 2021 PIX: retirement ceremony last RAF E-3D Sentry AWACS jets...

[Stratofreighter]

MOD © Crown Copyright 2021)

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british ... t-retires/

British E-3D Sentry fleet retires
September 29, 2021

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news ... entry-aew1

The United Kingdom has retired the Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW1 after 30 years of operational service.

A decommissioning ceremony was held at the type's main operating base at Royal Air Force (RAF) Waddington in Lincolnshire on 28 September.

Though a small fleet,
the Sentries were deployed in support of every UK air operation from the first Gulf War
through to missions against the Islamic State.

With just seven airframes to begin with,
the Sentry capability had been whittled down in recent years
as planned capability upgrades were shelved as cost saving measures.

By the time of the retirement ceremony, just three aircraft remained in a flyable condition.

The type's last operational mission was flown by 8 Squadron on 5 August 2021.

[FredL]

E-3D ZH101 (radio callsign Solex01) from Waddington now flying patterns at 28.000 feet, over and north of Lakenheath.
Apparently training with F-15s.
Not yet in storage.