Airborne Early Warning and Control Ground-controlled interception

in more recent years, gci has been supplanted, or replaced outright, introduction of airborne warning , control (aew&c, called awacs) aircraft. aew&c tends superior in that, being airborne , being able down, can see targets far away @ low level, long can pick them out ground clutter. aew&c aircraft extremely expensive, however, , require aircraft dedicated protecting them. combination of both techniques ideal, gci typically available in defence of 1 s homeland, rather in expeditionary types of battles.

the strengths of gci can cover far more airspace aew&c without costing , areas otherwise blind-spots aew&c can covered cleverly placed radar stations. aew&c relies on aircraft may require defence , few aircraft more vulnerable many ground-based radar stations. if single aew&c aircraft shot down or otherwise taken out of picture, there serious gap in air defence until can replace it, in case of gci, many radar stations have taken off air before became serious problem. in both cases strike on command center serious.

either gci or aew&c can used give defending aircraft major advantage during actual interception allowing them sneak on enemy aircraft without giving away using own radar sets. typically, perform interception beyond visual range, aircraft have search sky intruders radars, energy might noticed intruder s radar warning receiver (rwr) electronics, alerting intruders may coming under attack. gci or aew&c, defending aircraft can vectored interception course, perhaps sliding in on intruder s tail position without being noticed, firing passive homing missiles , turning away. alternatively, turn radars on @ final moment, can radar lock , guide missiles. increases interceptor s chance of success , survival.