U.S. Air Force

Air Control Squadrons

The squadrons that control the battlespace. From WWII fighter direction to E-3 AWACS, Air Control provides the radar picture and command authority that puts weapons on target.

Eyes of the Air Force Est. 1942

AIR CONTROL

COMMAND AND CONTROL

Radar / GCI / AWACS / CRC

Ground Ctrl Intercept

1C5X1

BATTLE MGR AFSC

Air Control squadrons direct fighters to targets, manage the air battle, and maintain the recognized air picture. Ground-based Control and Reporting Centers track every aircraft in their sector and vector fighters onto threats. The E-3 Sentry AWACS extends that capability deep into enemy airspace. Weapons directors and battle managers call out bandits, assign targets, and deconflict the most complex airspace on earth. Read more

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GCI to AWACS to Wedgetail 1942 - Present

GCI

COLD WAR LEGACY

Ground Controlled Intercept

Radar-Directed Fighter Operations

GCI defined Cold War air defense. The SAGE system linked radar stations across North America into an integrated network. Controllers tracked Soviet bombers and vectored interceptors. This evolved into modern Control and Reporting Centers. The 726th Air Control Squadron at Mountain Home AFB provides deployable tactical air control for expeditionary operations. Read more

Airborne Warning and Control

WEDGETAIL REPLACEMENT

The E-3 Sentry's radar dome provides 360-degree surveillance out to 250 miles. Based at Tinker AFB with the 552nd Air Control Wing, AWACS crews manage entire air battles from 30,000 feet. In Desert Storm, AWACS directed over 3,000 sorties per day and vectored fighters to 38 of 40 aerial kills. The E-7A Wedgetail is replacing the aging E-3 fleet. Read more

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552nd

Air Control Wing

E-3

AWACS Platform

CRC

Control & Reporting

E-7A

Wedgetail Replacement