Mission over the central Mediterranean for a Turkish AWACS this morning.
A Turkish Air Force Boeing E-T “Peace Eagle”(reg. 13-004 – callsign TURAF42) that took off from Konya AB, central Turkey, orbited for several hours between Malta and Libya before returning to Turkey.
It is not known whether the aircraft operated within a NATO activity (Sea Guardian) or a domestic mission.
The aircraft uses the Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar. The L band (1 to 2 GHz) electronically scanned AEW and surveillance radar is located on a dorsal fin on top of the fuselage, dubbed the “top hat”, and is designed for minimal aerodynamic effect. The Peace Eagle can track targets over 600km (Look-up mode).