Is this the Block 40/45 E-3 Sentry (possibly designated E-3G?)

[Sentinel Chicken]

A friend posted this on my forum today, it was taking off from Boeing Field in Seattle. It appears to be an E-3 Sentry but has a tail cone housing for what looks like a VLF antenna (though there's no reason for it to be deployed...could just be one of those flight test attachments for air data) but there are forward fuselage fairings that are much larger in area but seem shallower than what's on the Block 30/35 Sentry aircraft.

I've never seen this Sentry variant......

 

[Trident]

Yes, it's certainly new to me as well - definitely not the known E-3C configuration.

 

[CammNut]

It's the one test E-3. And judging by the photograph at the link below it's been in this configuration for a while:

United States Air Force E-3B Sentry

Airplane photo of United States Air Force E-3B Sentry ground view

www.airlinefan.com

Aircraft 31674 has been serving the Block 40/45 test aircraft since 2007, so it is feasible some of those lumps and bumps will make it on to the operational birds.

This USAF news story seems to confirm the E-3G designation for the Block 40/45:

http://www.tinker.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123048135

 

[CammNut]

Make that 2006. Here's an image from the Boeing media site:

http://www.boeingmedia.com/imageDet...=Block 40/45&BuId=0&caid=0&prid=0&sc=med&pn=1

 

[LowObservable]

That's interesting.... and two weeks later and it's still here.

 

[kenneth]

according to airliners.net http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...3&um=1&hl=en&sa=X&nfpr=1&tbm=isch&um=1&itbs=1 that is the JE-3

 

[Vahe Demirjian]

Latest model of E-3G Sentry makes combat debut

The latest model of the E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) has arrived in Southwest Asia for its first combat deployment, officials said.

www.airforcetimes.com

 

[EwenS]

Latest model of E-3G Sentry makes combat debut

The latest model of the E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) has arrived in Southwest Asia for its first combat deployment, officials said.

www.airforcetimes.com

The article is dated 27 Nov 2015. So nothing new.

 

[helmutkohl]

Somewhat related..
is this the end of the E-3 and the beginning of the E-7 in USAF service?

PACAF Boss Calls for E-7s to Replace Aging E-3 AWACS | Air & Space Forces Magazine

The head of Pacific Air Forces is calling for new aircraft in his theater to meet the need for air superiority,

www.airforcemag.com