Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star Airborne Early-Warning and Radar-Surveillance Family
The EC-121 Warning Star was a military airborne early-warning and radar-surveillance family derived from Lockheed's Constellation line. Large dorsal and ventral radomes carried search and control equipment that extended air-defense detection beyond ground radar coverage; U.S. Navy and Air Force crews also used specialized variants for reconnaissance and command-and-control missions. Its long service from the 1950s through the Cold War made it a foundational predecessor to later AWACS systems.
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Identity
- Aliases
- EC-121Warning StarPO-1WWV-2RC-121
- Family Name
- Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star
- Full Name
- Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star Airborne Early-Warning and Radar-Surveillance Family
- Roles
- militaryreconnaissance
- Status
- retired
- Type
- aircraft
Details
- Aircraft Specs
- Configuration
- fixed_wing
- Operating Modes
- land
- Takeoff Landing Capabilities
- conventional
- Description
- The EC-121 Warning Star was a military airborne early-warning and radar-surveillance family derived from Lockheed's Constellation line. Large dorsal and ventral radomes carried search and control equipment that extended air-defense detection beyond ground radar coverage; U.S. Navy and Air Force crews also used specialized variants for reconnaissance and command-and-control missions. Its long service from the 1950s through the Cold War made it a foundational predecessor to later AWACS systems.
- First Flight Year
- 1,949
- Manufacturer
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 7, 2026 at 02:14:45 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 7, 2026 at 02:14:45 UTC