yes... with awacs on station terrain masking would make sense...
i dont know how the radar on the awacs detects ground units... say in towns and citys but it is possible...
the standard flight pattern of awacs is within the air defence bounders. takeing out a "wizzard" takes a lot of prep and coordinated effort. it needs DEAD sorties and then fighters to do the trick.... it hard to pull off and also takes away flights from "normal" tasking......