AEW is not its primary mission, that means it probably has a fraction of the capability of an E-2. I would not bet a carrier and its air wing on getting coverage from a platform like that.......![]()
The answer to the question was not what AEW there is close to the carrier, we all know that is E-2 (nobody said the helo would protect the carrier). The question was what AEW is available AWAY from the carrier. One of the answers was an AEGIS cruiser, and they may have a LAMPS III bird embarked. MB's response was directed at the LAMPS ASST capability, which IS one of the primary missions of LAMPS.