Razor,
The chin, nose and tail fairings on the French E-3Fs are for the same AYR-1 ESM system as used by the NATO and USAF jets. The French have also elected to remove their refuelling probe and rely on boom AAR. I assume that this has allowed them to reduce maintenance/currency requirements.
RAF E-3Ds have the Yellowgate ESM system in wing tip fairings rather than the AYR-1. The latter is a much better system as it's a generation or 2 ahead but the chin and cheek fairings knock about 60 mins off the endurance.
As far as an update to our E-3Ds in 2008...
Suffice to say, it'll take a little bit longer than that!
Regards,
MM