In a historic first for Nato’s Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), an all-female aircrew completed a mission sortie, marking a significant milestone in its operational history.

Conducted as part of Nato’s enhanced Vigilance Activities (eVA), the mission involved 22 servicewomen from eight Nato allies – Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal, and the US.

The mission, consisting of an all-female command and control crew took place on Friday.

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Based in Geilenkirchen, Germany, AWACS supports Nato’s Assurance Measures, initiated in 2014 after Russia’s annexation of Crimea, demonstrating Natos’s readiness and deterrence against aggression.

Nato emphasises the crucial role women play in fortifying its strength, drawing upon the diverse skills and talents of its population.

The percentage of women in Nato’s armed forces has doubled since 1998, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity and recognising the invaluable contributions of women in defence.

The AWACS jets are known by the alliance as Nato’s ‘eyes in the sky’ and have distinctive radar domes mounted on their fuselage for air surveillance. 

Nato’s air base in Geilenkirchen is home to a fleet of 14 Boeing E-3A AWACS aircraft.

AWACS surveillance aircraft contribute to counter-terrorism efforts, including Operation Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean, showcasing Nato’s commitment to tackling security threats.

AWACS has also been integral to previous Nato operations, including missions in the United States following 9/11, in Libya, and in Afghanistan.

The aircraft also offer air surveillance assistance to safeguard the skies during Nato summits and other significant international gatherings held within the alliance.

AWACS conducts a wide range of missions from peacetime air policing, support to counter-terrorism, evacuation operations, embargo, initial entry and crisis response to the full spectrum of wartime missions.

Under normal circumstances, the aircraft operates for about eight-and-a-half hours, at 30,000ft (9,150m) and covers a surveillance area of more than 120,000 square miles (310,798 square km). The aircraft is capable of flying longer operations due to its air-to-air refuelling capability.