Philip Smart | Adelaide
Australia’s fleet of six E-7A Wedgetail aircraft has achieved Final Operational Capability, as announced by Defence Minister Kevin Andrews and Deputy Chief of Air Force Air Vice-Marshal Gavin Davies at Fairbairn in Canberra yesterday.
The E-7A Wedgetail is an early warning and control (AEW&C) platform based on the Boeing 737-700, with the addition of an advanced Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar and 10 mission crew consoles. It can gather information from a wide variety of sources, analyse it and distribute it to other air and surface assets. It can also control the tactical battle space, providing direction for fighter aircraft, surface combatants and land based elements, as well as supporting aircraft such as tankers and intelligence platforms.
Final Operational Capability is not just about the platform and its crews, but is only achieved when the entire capability, from physical aircraft to logistics, management, sustainment, facilities and training are declared fully operational and able to support ongoing operations.
Wedgetail crews have already gained much practical experience, flying more than 100 surveillance sorties and 1200 hours on Operation Okra in the Middle East and providing coordination and flight safety capability for the air search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in the Southern Indian Ocean.
Deputy Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Gavin Davies, AO, CSC, said the E-7A Wedgetail provides Australia with the ability to control and survey vast areas of operation, and contribute to Australia’s modern and fully integrated combat force under Plan Jericho.
“The aircraft’s advanced multi-role radar gives the Air Force the ability to survey, command, control and coordinate a joint air, sea and land operations in real time,” Air Vice-Marshal Davies said.
“As we transition into a more technologically advanced force as part of Plan Jericho, the Wedgetail will be able to support future aircraft and surveillance systems.”
The home operating base for the Wedgetail aircraft is RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales.