The United States Air Force (USAF) has begun the replacement of the E-3 Sentry Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft with the purchase of two E-7 Wedgetails. Manufactured by Boeing, the new radar planes are based on the commercial 737-700.
USAF command signed an initial $1,2 billion contract with Boeing, covering the acquisition of the first two aircraft. These will serve for the development of a specific version for the United States, with a view to the future purchase of another 24 aircraft. The expectation is that all will be delivered by 2032, finally replacing the E-3 Sentry AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System).
“The E-7 is a proven platform. It is the only advanced aircraft capable of meeting the short-term Air Force Early Warning and Control requirements of the US Air Force, allowing integration across the t force.”, said Stu Voboril, vice president and general manager of the E-7 program.
The purchase of the planes comes less than a year after the USAF announced the E-7 as its new radar plane. Its current platform, the Boeing 3-based E-707C Sentry, has been in service since 1977 and is instrumental in operations around the world, providing long range detection and real-time data to fighter jets and theater commanders.
According to the USAF, the Wedgetail “It is the only platform capable of meeting the Department of Defense's requirements for tactical battle management, command and control, and moving target indication capabilities in the time frame needed to replace the aging E-3.”
The E-7 is capable of tracking multiple air and sea threats simultaneously, with 360-degree coverage via MESA (Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array) radar, manufactured by Northrop Grumman. Capable of tracking 180 targets and conducting 24 interceptions simultaneously, the MESA provides critical domain awareness to detect and identify adversary targets at long range, dynamically adjusting to emerging tactical situations, in addition to being able to be used in electronic intelligence missions.
“We performed a thorough analysis of viable industry options to ensure the E-3 replacement could meet the specific needs of the US” said Andrew Hunter, Air Force assistant secretary for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. “The rapid prototyping program will integrate US-based mission systems into the existing air platform to meet Department of the Air Force requirements, while ensuring interoperability with coalition and allied partners that already operate the E-7A”, concludes Hunter.
Converted from the Next-Generation 737-700, the E-7 is already operated by the air forces of Australia, Turkey and South Korea. In addition to the USAF, the British Royal Air Force is the most recent buyer of the model, which will also replace the country's E-3D Sentry, already retired and sold to Chile. “The E-7 capitalizes on existing commercial aircraft design, certification, and modification processes for derivative commercial aircraft, allowing the E-7s to be fielded to meet Air Force needs." diz to Boeing.
