The RAF’s Sentry aircraft are a vital presence over land and sea where UK forces are operating, collecting information which is used to understand the environment and control troop activity.

Sentry at a glance

• The RAF operates six Sentry aircraft, operated by No 8 Squadron based at RAF Waddington.
• Along with Sentinel and Shadow, the aircraft forms one arm of the UK Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) triad.
• It can fly for more than 11 hours over 5,000 nautical miles – this range can be extended by air-to-air refuelling.
• Sentry usually has a crew of 18, including four flight deck crew, three technicians, and an 11-man mission crew.
• The DE&S Air ISTAR Team, part of the Air Support domain, supports the aircraft fleet to ensure it is available for operations when required.

“In partnership with the RAF and our partners in industry, DE&S keeps this important airspace management aircraft flying and supporting UK operations.”