If you ever spot an airplane carrying a giant disc in the sky, it might not be a UFO, but an E-3 Sentry. Reborn based on the Boeing 707, this aircraft is a “flying command tower” that oversees the entire battlefield from the air. With a massive radar dome 9.1 meters in diameter and 1.8 meters thick sitting on its back, it exudes a unique and unmistakable presence. This plastic model meticulously reproduces that one-of-a-kind form, offering an outstanding sense of satisfaction upon completion.

The E-3 Sentry first took to the skies in 1977. Adopted by the U.S. Air Force, as well as NATO, France, the UK, and Saudi Arabia, it has served as a guardian of the skies for many years. Its predecessor, the EC-121, could no longer meet the demands of the era, and the E-3 was born to satisfy new needs such as “detecting enemies flying at lower altitudes” and “exercising command in the air.” One of the charms of this plastic model is being able to trace that technological evolution with your own hands as you build it.

The E-3 is not just an aircraft equipped with radar. Its radar utilizes a digital pulse-Doppler system, possessing the capability to accurately capture not only low-flying aircraft but also vessels at sea, and it even features a “BTH mode” that allows it to see beyond the horizon. When you learn about the E-3's role as a “commander” that controls fighter jets and ground forces from the air, beyond mere detection, you can truly feel how significant its existence is. Despite being a plastic model, its precision conveys the weight of this “airborne command post.”

This airplane is more than just its looks. It boasts a toughness with mission times lasting up to 8 to 11 hours, which can be further extended through aerial refueling. Prepared for long missions, the interior even includes rest spaces and dining areas for the crew. Assembling it while imagining this “sense of daily life” not found in fighter jets reveals an even more realistic world.

From the United States to Europe and the Middle East, the E-3 continues to fly on active duty in skies across the world. While the Japan Air Self-Defense Force introduced the E-767 instead of the E-3, that too is a successor heavily influenced by this E-3. From the front lines of the Cold War to the current international situation, the E-3 Sentry has consistently supported aerial security. This plastic model is a rare kit that allows you to feel that history of global operational records and military technology right on your desk at home.