How Sea King AEW could reshape Falklands air defence

Only continuous, worldwide space-based surveillance might replace airborne early warning, and it would still have to provide radar coverage from above. The operational alternative examined here uses six to eight Sea King AEW helicopters across two carriers, enough to keep three or four aloft, with additional aircraft potentially operating forward from the Falkland Islands. Looking down from altitude would reveal attackers hidden from ship radar by terrain or the sea horizon. This warning problem included Exocet attacks and Atlantic Conveyor as well as conventional bomb attacks. Earlier warning would let Sea Harriers intercept sooner and give ships time to aim missiles and guns toward the threat. Argentine forces could still attempt deception, but the extra effort and faster attrition might shorten the campaign and reduce deaths on both sides.