AEW-1 Buscadora
 ESB Susa AEW-1 Buscadora airborne early warning aircraft | |
| Type | Airborne early warning aircraft |
|---|---|
| Place of origin |
 Nouvelle Alexandrie |
| Introduced | 1703 AN (operational evaluation); 1708 AN (full service) |
| Number built | 68 (as of 1752 AN) |
| Designed | 1698 AN-1702 AN |
| First flight | 7.IV.1702 AN |
| Manufacturer | ESB Susa Aerospace |
| Primary users | |
| Unit cost | NAX€95 million |
| Crew | 6 (2 pilots, 4 radar operators/mission systems officers) |
| Length | 24.6 m |
| Wingspan | 24.8 m |
| Height | 5.8 m |
| Empty weight | 16,200 kg |
| Max. takeoff weight | 26,500 kg |
| Powerplant | 2 x ESB-Susa TP-400 turboprop (4,100 shp each) |
| Maximum speed | 580 km/h |
| Cruise speed | 480 km/h |
| Combat radius | 1,850 km |
| Ferry range | 5,200 km |
| Endurance | 10 hours (on station) |
| Service ceiling | 9,100 m |
| Radar | ESB-Susa AN/APS-145 rotodome radar; 360-degree coverage; 400 km detection range (fighter-sized targets) |
| Avionics | Integrated friend-or-foe identification; secure datalink; battle management system |
| Defensive systems | Chaff and flare dispensers; radar warning receiver; missile approach warning system |
| Status | In service; production complete 1750 AN; being supplemented by AEW-2 Centinela |
The ESB Susa AEW-1 Buscadora (Alexandrian: AEW-1 Chercheuse; Martino: AEW-1 Buscadora, meaning "Searcher") is an airborne early warning aircraft developed and manufactured by ESB Susa Aerospace. Originally developed for the Federal Air Force of Nouvelle Alexandrie, the Buscadora has since been exported to multiple Raspur Pact partners and associated states. The aircraft entered operational evaluation in 1703 AN and achieved full service entry in 1708 AN, serving as the Federation's first purpose-built airborne early warning platform. The Buscadora provides long-range radar surveillance, airspace control, and battle management capabilities, and has served as the backbone of New Alexandrian airborne surveillance for nearly five decades, though it is being progressively supplemented by the more capable AEW-2 Centinela.
ESB Susa Aerospace developed the Buscadora beginning in 1698 AN to address the Federation's requirement for an indigenous airborne early warning capability. The first prototype completed its maiden flight on 7.IV.1702 AN, and early operational evaluation commenced the following year when the Honourable Air Corporation operated a single pre-production aircraft on behalf of the Air Department of the Hurmu Peace Corps from 1703 AN to 1707 AN. This early deployment provided valuable operational feedback that informed subsequent production aircraft. Full service entry with the Federal Air Force occurred in 1708 AN. The design features a twin-turboprop configuration optimized for long endurance and operational flexibility from austere airfields. The aircraft's most distinctive feature is its dorsal rotodome housing the AN/APS-145 radar, capable of detecting fighter-sized targets at ranges exceeding 400 kilometers while simultaneously tracking surface vessels and low-flying aircraft. The radar system provides 360-degree coverage and can track over 200 targets while controlling intercepts for multiple fighter aircraft. The mission crew of four radar operators and systems officers work in a pressurized cabin equipped with multi-function displays and secure communications equipment, enabling the aircraft to serve as an airborne command post for coordinating air defense operations. The Buscadora's robust airframe and reliable turboprop engines have proven well-suited to extended overwater patrols, with the type accumulating millions of flight hours across multiple operators. Production continued steadily through the 1710s and 1720s, with exports to Constancia beginning in 1718 AN, Hurmu in 1720 AN, and the Benacian Union in 1725 AN. The Force 1752 initiative funded a final production run between 1742 AN and 1750 AN, bringing total production to 68 airframes. With the introduction of the AEW-2 Centinela, the Buscadora has been transitioning to secondary roles including training, reserve duty, and operations in lower-threat environments, though it remains the primary airborne early warning platform for several export customers.
Operators
Current operators
| Country | Operator | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nouvelle Alexandrie |
Federal Air Force of Nouvelle Alexandrie | 38 | In service from 1708 AN; transitioning to secondary roles as AEW-2 Centinela enters service |
 Benacian Union |
Aviation Forces of the Benacian Union | 9 | Assigned to Airborne Early Warning Squadron, Fighter Command; export deliveries from 1725 AN |
 Constancia |
Constancian Air Force | 8 | Export deliveries from 1718 AN. Assigned to 14th Syntagma (Airborne Early Warning & Patrol), Imperial Constancian Air Force, at Ithonion. |
 Order of the Holy Lakes |
Hurmu Fyrð | 5 | Export deliveries from 1720 AN |
Former operators
| Country | Operator | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 Hurmu |
Honourable Air Corporation | 1 | Operated on behalf of the Hurmu Peace Corps Air Department (1703 AN-1707 AN); stationed at Vesüha International Airport; pre-production aircraft for operational evaluation |
