Boeing E-7 Wedgetail

The History of the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail

The Boeing E-7A "Wedgetail" serves several of the world's modern air forces in an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) role, helping to manage an active battle space (at the tactical level) while having some capability in one mission Scan millions of square miles of terrain. Developed as part of the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) Wedgetail Program, the aircraft is based on the existing mature framework of the Boeing 737-700 (Next Generation), a twin-engine narrow-body airliner introduced in 1968 . This fully modern aircraft is also equipped with advanced electronics and systems for AEW&C.

After its maiden flight in 2004, the E-7A entered service with the Royal Australian Air Force in 2009. To date (2017), a total of 14 aircraft have been built in the series and are actively operated by the Royal Australian Air Force, the Turkish Air Force (as "Peace Eagle") and the Republic of Korea Air Force (South Korea) (as "Peace Eye").

Above the rear ridge of the aircraft is Northrop Grumman's Multipurpose Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar system, which allows multiple air and ground targets to be tracked and scanned simultaneously and provided to the air and ground commanders. The radar system is mounted on a mounting structure in front of the empennage and is static (non-rotating). With this equipment, the platform has inherent capabilities that traditional fighter jets cannot, and the aircraft can serve as the "eye in the sky" for all branches of a given army.

In addition to communicating with other similar aircraft, the platform integrates seamlessly with existing communication pipelines and can coordinate with interceptors, fighter jets and aerial tankers. In addition to its given military role, the aircraft is also valuable in a search and rescue (SAR) role when large amounts of ocean terrain need to be scanned. Inside, the passenger area has ten crew consoles that can withstand up to ten hours of flight duty.

Base operations staff consist of two pilots, while mission specialists and electronic analysts manage onboard equipment.

The aircraft has an overall length of 110.3 feet, a height of 41.1 feet, and a wingspan of 117 feet. Curb weight is 102,750 lbs and MTOW is 171,000 lbs. Power comes from 2 CFM International CFM56-7B27A turbofan engines, each producing 27,000 pounds of thrust.

Performance includes a cruise speed of 530 mph, a range of up to 3,500 nautical miles and a service ceiling of up to 41,000 feet.

The RAAF initially ordered four Wedgetails, with an option to order three more, with the first prototypes arriving in 2006. Two optional aircraft have been edited. Despite continued delays, about six were in service at the RAAF's Williamtown base. The first combat-related deployment of the RAAF Wedgetails took place over Iraq in October 2014 against members of ISIS (Islamic State).

Official Final Operating Capability (FOC) was awarded to the fleet in May 2015.

The E-7A Wedgetail is recognized by the Turkish Air Force under the name "Peace Eagle" and detailed elsewhere on this page. Four such aircraft make up the active fleet (2017).

In 2012, South Korea ordered 4 wedge tails under the name "Peace Eye". The first arrived in August 2011 and the last was delivered in 2012.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

PERFORMANCE

ARMAMENT

VARIANTS