Data Quality84%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the awacs / airborne early warning category.
01 / Overview
WC-121 Warning Star
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1953–1958
Quantity
232
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
AWACS / AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING · EARLY COLD WAR
4
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
50
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the awacs / airborne early warning category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- Base AirframeL-1049 Super Constellation
- Mission TypeAirborne early warning and control
- Service Entry Year1954
- Flight Crew18
- Mission Crew12
- In ServiceNo
◈Powerplant2MOD.2
- Engine TypeWright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone radial engines
- Number of Engines4
▣Performance5MOD.5
- Cruise Speed460 km/h
- Service Ceiling7,620 m
- Range7,400 km
- Endurance18
- On-Station Time18
◇Mission Systems10MOD.10
- Primary Sensor / RadarAN/APS-20 search radar and AN/APS-45 height finder
- Detection Range320 km
- AESA RadarNo
- Rotodome / AEW AntennaNo
- Operator Consoles18
- SIGINT / ELINT SuiteYes
- Magnetic Anomaly DetectorNo
- Sonobuoy CapabilityNo
- Tactical DatalinkYes
- Self-Protection SuiteNo
◆Armament (ASW/Strike)3MOD.3
- TorpedoesNo
- Anti-Ship MissilesNo
- Weapons Payload0 kg
▤Dimensions3MOD.3
- Length35.42 m
- Wingspan37.49 m
- Max Takeoff Weight65,771 kg
⬢Production2MOD.2
- Total Built232
- Operators2
▲Service History4MOD.4
- Retirement Year1982
- Production Start1953
- Production End1958
- Operational StatusRetired
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANRetired
- 1953Production started
- 1958Production ended
73
years in service
5
years in production
232
units produced
0
countries operating
ⓘ 1 countries retired it.
05 / MASS Score
AWACS / AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING RANKING AWACS / Airborne Early Warning · Early Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
19AWACS / AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING4EARLY COLD WAR · AWACS / AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING2184UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS23PERFORMANCE/PRICE · AWACS / AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING
ⓘ Rankings are within theAWACS / Airborne Early Warningcategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE2terms
Enables real-time sharing of position, targeting, and sensor data among aircraft and platforms for coordinated combat operations.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources