US Air Force awards $1.2 billion contract for 26 E-7 aircraft
News, US March 5, 2023 1 Comment on US Air Force awards $1.2 billion contract for 26 E-7 aircraftThe U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a $1.2 billion worth contract for a fleet of 26 E-7A battle management and command-and-control aircraft to replace its aging fleet of E-3 Sentry AWCS planes.
Originally produced for the Royal Australian Air Force, the E-7 is also called the Wedgetail due to its distinct design features. Due to an evident success with the Royal Australian Air Force, the Wedgetail became a certain candidate to replace the E-3 for the U.S. Air Force. The United Kingdom, South Korea, and Turkey also fly the E-7 and plan to buy the aircraft.
E-7 is based on the Boeing 737’s airframe. It uses the 737-700 narrowbody as the aircraft base. It used an electronically scanning radar, rather than the much older 707 used for the E-3, which has a less capable mechanically scanning radar. Australia was the first customer for the plane and has deployed it in Iraq and Syria alongside the U.S. military.
The U.S. Air Force said that the E-7 would enhance the airborne moving target indication capabilities with better command and control. The E-7 can also carry a wide array of powerful electronic radars for better airborne battle management which would also help the long-range strike capabilities.
The U.S. Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter said in an official statement that “The E-7 will be the principal airborne sensor for detecting, identifying, tracking and reporting all airborne activity to joint force commanders.”
Hunter further said that the Wedgetail “will enable greater airborne battlespace awareness through its precise, real-time air picture and will be able to control and direct individual aircraft under a wide range of environmental and operational conditions.”
The new fleet of E-7 aircraft is expected to join the U.S. Air Force in 2027. The order is a part of the U.S. Air Force’s efforts to modernize its battlefield management systems. Currently, the U.S. Air Force relies on a fleet of E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System planes that dates to the 1970s. The U.S. Air Force plans to retire 15 of its E-3 aircraft, nearly half of the current operating fleet.
“We conducted a thorough analysis of viable industry options to ensure the selected E-3 replacement could meet the specific needs of the U.S. Until the E-7A is fielded, we will continue to rely on the E-3 AWACS,” Hunter said.
“The rapid prototyping program will integrate U.S.-based mission systems into the existing airborne platform to meet requirements while simultaneously ensuring interoperability with the coalition and allied partners already operating the E-7,” Hunter added.
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[…] this month, the U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a $1.2 billion worth contract for a fleet of 26 E-7A battle management and command-and-control aircraft to replace its aging fleet of E-3 Sentry AWCS […]