Fairey Gannet AEW.3

Gannet AEW.3
Gannets lined up on the apron at RAF Lossiemouth in 1977
Role	Airborne early warning aircraft Type of aircraft
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Fairey Aviation Company
First flight	20 August 1958
Introduction	August 1959
Retired	15 December 1978[note 1]
Primary user	Royal Navy
Produced	1958–1963
Number built	44
Developed from	Fairey Gannet

The Fairey Gannet AEW.3 is a variant of the Fairey Gannet anti-submarine warfare aircraft intended to be used in the airborne early warning (AEW) role on aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy. It was introduced to service in 1959 to replace the obsolete Douglas Skyraider, and was intended as an interim solution until the planned introduction of a new, purpose built AEW platform for use on the planned CVA-01 aircraft carriers. Neither the new aircraft carriers nor the new AEW aircraft were proceeded with, and the Gannet AEW.3 remained in service until the last aircraft carrier that could operate it was retired in 1978.
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