AWACS stands for Airborne Warning and Control System. It's the military acronym for the huge jet airplanes with a big round bump on the top that you may see pictures of on the news or in military movies or TV programs. The big round bump is a 30-foot radar dome that collects data on airborne and ground-based items of military significance. Battle information is processed in real-time and relayed to other military units, giving an important strategic advantage to the units with the advanced radar information.