Canada to rejoin NATO AWACS force

The Government of Canada has announced its rejoining of the multinational NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force flying E-3A Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. The size of the force was reduced to 14 operational aircraft following Canada’s announcement in 2011 of its planned withdrawal from the force because of budgetary concerns. However, the RCAF has maintained a cadre of AWACS-qualified personnel since it stopped flying with the NATO force in 2014 by integrating them with US Air Force crews.