AEW-2 Centinela
 ESB Susa AEW-2 Centinela airborne early warning and control aircraft | |
| Type | Airborne early warning and control aircraft |
|---|---|
| Place of origin |
 Nouvelle Alexandrie |
| Introduced | 1730 AN |
| Number built | 48 (as of 1752 AN) |
| Designed | 1724 AN-1729 AN |
| First flight | 3.XI.1729 AN |
| Manufacturer | ESB Susa Aerospace |
| Systems partners | |
| Primary user |
Federal Air Force of Nouvelle Alexandrie |
| Unit cost | NAX€165 million |
| Crew | 8 (2 pilots, 1 flight engineer, 5 mission crew) |
| Length | 27.8 m |
| Wingspan | 29.6 m |
| Height | 6.4 m |
| Empty weight | 22,400 kg |
| Max. takeoff weight | 38,000 kg |
| Powerplant | 2 x ESB-Susa TP-450 turboprop (4,800 shp each) |
| Maximum speed | 610 km/h |
| Cruise speed | 520 km/h |
| Combat radius | 2,400 km |
| Ferry range | 6,800 km |
| Endurance | 11 hours (on station) |
| Service ceiling | 10,200 m |
| Radar | ESB-Susa AN/APY-9 active electronically scanned array rotodome; 600 km detection range (fighter-sized targets); simultaneous air and surface tracking |
| Avionics | EGuard-integrated battle management system; secure multi-band datalinks; cooperative engagement capability |
| Defensive systems | AN/ALQ-212 electronic warfare suite; directed infrared countermeasures; towed radar decoy; chaff and flare dispensers |
| Variants |
|
| Status | In service; production ongoing |
The ESB Susa AEW-2 Centinela (Alexandrian: AEW-2 Sentinelle; Martino: AEW-2 Centinela, meaning "Sentinel") is an airborne early warning and control aircraft developed by ESB Susa Aerospace with systems integration support from Javelin Industries and Sarbanes-Lopez Cybersecurity. The Centinela entered service in 1730 AN as a successor to the AEW-1 Buscadora, featuring substantially improved radar range, networked battle management capabilities, and enhanced survivability systems. The aircraft serves as the Federation's primary airborne command and control platform, coordinating air defense operations and providing situational awareness across multiple domains.
Development of the AEW-2 began in 1724 AN following a Department of Defense requirement for a next-generation airborne early warning platform with improved detection capability against low-observable threats. ESB Susa Aerospace designed an enlarged airframe incorporating the new AN/APY-9 active electronically scanned array radar, which provides a 50% increase in detection range compared to the Buscadora's mechanically scanned system while adding the capability to simultaneously track surface vessels and low-flying cruise missiles. The radar's electronic scanning enables rapid beam repositioning without physical rotation, improving track update rates and allowing the system to focus attention on high-priority sectors while maintaining broad area coverage. Javelin Industries contributed the EGuard-integrated mission computer, enabling seamless data fusion from multiple sensors and direct control of unmanned aircraft and missiles through the cooperative engagement capability datalink. Sarbanes-Lopez Cybersecurity developed the aircraft's secure communications architecture, which enables encrypted voice and data exchange with surface combatants, ground-based command centers, and allied forces across the Raspur Pact network. The defensive suite includes an AN/ALQ-212 electronic warfare system capable of detecting and jamming hostile radar emissions, as well as directed infrared countermeasures and a towed radar decoy for protection against air-to-air missiles. The Centinela's combination of detection range and battle management capability proved invaluable during the Fourth Euran War, where AEW-2 aircraft coordinated coalition air operations over Oportia. Production under the Force 1752 initiative expanded deliveries, bringing the total fleet to 48 aircraft by 1752 AN.
Variants
- AEW-2A
- Standard production variant with full sensor suite and battle management capability. 46 delivered as of 1752 AN.
- AEW-2B
- Defensive variant integrating the Basilisk Beam directed-energy weapon as an active countermeasure against incoming missiles. The AEW-2B mounts a modified 30 kW Basilisk Beam turret in a ventral position, slaved to the aircraft's missile approach warning system for autonomous engagement of air-to-air threats. Two prototypes are undergoing flight testing at the Javelin Testing Range and Laboratory as of late 1752 AN, with initial results reported as promising. The variant addresses concerns raised during the Fourth Euran War regarding the vulnerability of high-value airborne assets to enemy missiles, particularly in scenarios where fighter escort may not be immediately available. If testing is successful, the AEW-2B configuration may be offered as a retrofit package for existing AEW-2A aircraft.
Operators
| Country | Operator | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nouvelle Alexandrie |
Federal Air Force of Nouvelle Alexandrie | 46 | In service from 1730 AN; primary airborne early warning and control platform |
| Nouvelle Alexandrie |
Javelin Testing Range and Laboratory | 2 | AEW-2B prototypes; Basilisk Beam integration testing |
