Game training / 2:35

Radar Basics 003: Electronic warfare, Nimrod and AWACS

Read EW bearings and diamonds, then use airborne sensors to understand gaps in the radar picture.

Written guide in English

Use the written guides for the controls in your game version. The lesson introduces the sensor picture. For current controls and track-fading behaviour, follow the written EW, AWACS and faded-track guides; the timing examples in the recording are not a countdown for every track.

What you’ll take away

Strobes and EW diamonds
Nimrod listening versus AWACS radar
White tracks and faded tracks

Words used on this page

Choose an underlined term for a quick explanation, or browse the meanings here.

EW: Electronic warfare: using or responding to electromagnetic signals, such as radio and radar. In these guides, separate listening for signals from jamming them.
Related guide: ew bearings
Bearing: The direction from one position towards another, normally expressed in degrees. In the game’s north-up map, 090 degrees points east; the starting position matters.
Related guide: range bearing
Bearing strobe: A line showing the direction towards a detected signal. One line does not tell you how far away the source is.
Related guide: ew bearings
AWACS: Airborne Warning and Control System: an aircraft carrying radar and control equipment. In this game, the E-3D Sentry provides the airborne radar picture.
Related guide: awacs coverage
Track: The system’s record of a contact over time, built from related reports. On the scope it is shown using a symbol and available information.
Related guide: plot or track
Faded track: A track that is no longer receiving fresh reports. It flashes to attract attention and can disappear if updates do not resume; that alone does not mean the aircraft was destroyed.
Related guide: faded tracks