Alaska under surveillance: the United States raises its alert level in the Arctic
In a new indication of the rising level of U.S. military readiness on the northern front, the U.S. Air Force has deployed E-3 Sentry (AWACS) airborne early warning and control aircraft into Alaskan airspace.
This move aims to enhance aerial surveillance and early warning capabilities in one of the most strategically sensitive theaters for U.S. defense, according to the Military Watch magazine website.
The aircraft took off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, where the 960th, 961st, and 962nd airborne surveillance squadrons took part in complex operational scenarios that included simulations of advanced electronic warfare environments and harsh operating conditions reflecting Arctic challenges, in a clear message underscoring the continued U.S. focus on securing the northern approaches to the continent.
According to Military Watch, the E-3 plays a central role as an advanced airborne command and control center, providing a real-time operational picture of the airspace and coordinating between fighter aircraft and tactical assets deployed across vast areas.
The E-3 flying radar
In this context, Major Michael Dunlap of the 961st Squadron explained that aircrews establish advanced operational orbits that allow the direction of fighters, activation of passive identification capabilities, and integration of intelligence data, providing field commanders with instantaneous situational awareness of developments in the airspace.
However, despite its long operational record, this system faces increasing technical challenges in dealing with modern aerial threats, particularly stealth fighter aircraft.
The commander of U.S. Air Forces in the Pacific, General Kenneth Wilsbach, acknowledged in March 2022, after the first operational encounter with China’s J-20 fighter, that the current sensor systems aboard the E-3 are no longer sufficient to efficiently detect low radar-signature threats, stressing the need to accelerate the introduction of the E-7 Wedgetail into service.
This technological gap is compounded by maintenance challenges and fleet aging, which has affected operational readiness rates and prompted U.S. military planning circles to intensify discussions on accelerating the replacement program.
The challenge becomes even more complex amid the rapid development of Russian and Chinese air capabilities. Fighters such as Russia’s Su-30 and China’s J-16 rely on large antenna radars that provide advanced detection capabilities, while Beijing continues developing its long-range stealth bomber program, whose initial flight tests began in October 2025, ahead of planned entry into service in the coming decade.
According to the report, Alaska holds a pivotal position in U.S. defense strategy as the first warning line against any trans-Arctic aerial threat. Washington has reinforced its presence there with an advanced fleet of fifth-generation fighters, including 54 F-35A aircraft within the 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson, in addition to F-22 Raptors stationed at Elmendorf-Richardson.
With ongoing Russian air patrols and growing operational cooperation between Moscow and Beijing, including the deployment of Chinese H-6 bombers to Russian bases since 2024, Arctic airspace is gradually becoming a theater of advanced strategic competition, where superiority in situational awareness and early detection has become a decisive factor in shaping the balance of deterrence during the early stages of any potential confrontation.
