Back to news

March 26, 2019 | International, Aerospace

UK - Multi-billion-pound deal for early warning radar aircraft

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has signed a $1.98Bn deal to purchase five E-7 aircraft.

The E-7 fleet will replace the current Sentry aircraft and ensure the continued delivery of the UK's Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capability.

Named “Wedgetail” by the Australian Department for Defence, the E-7 aircraft can fly for long periods of time and manage the battlespace from the sky.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

The E-7 provides a technological edge in an increasingly complex battlespace, allowing our ships and aircraft to track and target adversaries more effectively than ever. This deal also strengthens our vital military partnership with Australia.

We will operate state-of-the-art F-35 jets and world-class Type-26 warships, and this announcement will help us work even more closely together to tackle the global threats we face.

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, said:

Today's announcement about the procurement of five E-7 ‘Wedgetail' Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft is excellent news for both the RAF and wider Defence. This world-class capability, already proven with our Royal Australian Air Force partners, will significantly enhance our ability to deliver decisive airborne command and control and builds on the reputation of our E3D Sentry Force.

Along with Defence's investment in other cutting-edge aircraft, E-7 will form a core element of the Next Generation Air Force, able to overcome both current and future complex threats.

The new fleet will be able to track multiple airborne and maritime targets at the same time, using the information it gathers to provide situational awareness and direct other assets such as fighter jets and warships.

The E-7 is a proven aircraft that is currently in-service with the Royal Australian Air Force and has been used on operations in the battle against Daesh in Iraq and Syria.

The E-7 is based on a standard Boeing 737 NG airliner modified to carry a sophisticated Northrop Grumman active electronically-scanned radar. This can cover four million square kilometres over a 10-hour period.

Modification of the aircraft will be carried out in the UK, sustaining over 200 highly skilled jobs at Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group in Cambridge, and there will also be opportunities for British suppliers to be involved in future training and support arrangements.

This announcement builds on a growing military capability and industrial relationship between the UK and Australia, after the Australian government selected the British Type 26 design for its future frigate.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/multi-billion-pound-deal-for-early-warning-radar-aircraft

On the same subject

  • Stratolaunch sets sights on hypersonic speeds for next Talon-A test

    March 16, 2024 | International, Land

    Stratolaunch sets sights on hypersonic speeds for next Talon-A test

    Stratolaunch aims to achieve hypersonic speeds and demonstrate reusability during its second powered Talon-A mission, slated for later this year.

  • Researchers Uncover Vulnerabilities in Open-Source AI and ML Models

    October 30, 2024 | International, C4ISR, Security

    Researchers Uncover Vulnerabilities in Open-Source AI and ML Models

    Discover critical vulnerabilities in open-source AI tools that could lead to data theft and code execution. Update your software now!

  • Vidéo : Quand la science-fiction se met au service de la Défense nationale

    January 14, 2022 | International, C4ISR

    Vidéo : Quand la science-fiction se met au service de la Défense nationale

    Au sein de l'Agence de l'Innovation de la Défense, « Red Team » et « Blue Team » imaginent et répondent aux scénarios catastrophes de demain. Les équipes de France Info se sont entretenues avec le directeur de l'agence, Emmanuel Chiva, directeur de l'agence qui pilote l'innovation en matière de défense, dont l'une des missions est d'anticiper les menaces, et de travailler sur les moyens de s'en prémunir. Imaginer les conflits d'un futur lointain au sein de l'Agence de l'innovation de Défense, c'est le rôle de la Red Team et de ses auteurs de science-fiction. « C'est une dizaine d'auteurs, (...) et nous avons aussi un opérateur, Paris Sciences & Lettres, qui nous apporte toute la méthodologie », indique Emmanuel Chiva. En face, la Blue Team, « composée d'officiers, d'ingénieurs, de la DGA, de spécialistes des relations internationales du ministère des Armées (...) des gens qui doivent imaginer le moyen de répondre aux menaces de la Red Team », détaille-t-il. L'agence possède un comité d'éthique de la Défense, « dans le but de se fixer des lignes rouges » rassure Emmanuel Chiva. Parmi les scénarios, on trouve un travail sur les pirates du futur avec « la création d'une nation flottante », D'autres scénarios, en revanche, ceux qui peuvent « exposer des vulnérabilités », restent confidentiels. Franceinfo du 13 janvier

All news