Minister signals support for expanding RAF Wedgetail fleet

Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard has signalled his support for a future expansion of the RAF’s Wedgetail fleet, citing improved economic conditions and growing defence budgets, amid continued scrutiny over the programme’s delays and reduced size.

Speaking in Westminster Hall on 16 July, the minister acknowledged that delays to the E-7 Wedgetail had left a critical gap in the RAF’s airborne early warning capability but said delivery was now on track for 2026. He also echoed growing cross-party support for restoring the original five-aircraft fleet size, up from the three currently on order.

“Disappointingly, the E-7 Wedgetail programme has experienced delays,” the minister told MPs. “These are due, first, to wider challenges faced by the global aviation industry… and, secondly, to more specific programme issues, including complex certification work that Boeing has had to undertake.”

He emphasised that “test and evaluation are now under way”, with a Wedgetail aircraft set to participate in the Royal International Air Tattoo this week, and added: “We are working flat out to get a fully compliant aircraft into service as fast as possible, and we are holding suppliers to account.”

But much of the debate focused on the earlier decision to reduce the RAF’s order from five to three aircraft in 2021, a move widely condemned by the Defence Committee. Labour’s Luke Akehurst pressed the minister to reconsider the decision.

“Does the Minister agree that upgrading this fleet of aircraft would be easier if there were five airframes?” Akehurst asked. “That would allow one of the five to be taken out of service for an upgrade. It is logistically more difficult if we stick with three airframes.”

Pollard responded affirmatively. “My hon. Friend makes a strong argument. I support the wording of the strategic defence review, which talks of possibly buying more E-7 Wedgetails when the economic conditions allow.”

He pointed to the government’s long-term defence spending commitments as a reason for optimism. “Thanks to the decisions taken by the Prime Minister, we will be spending 2.5 percent of GDP on defence by April 2027, 3 percent in the next Parliament and 3.5 percent by 2035,” he said. “For the first time in a very long time, there will be a rising defence budget in the next decade.”

Framing Wedgetail as both an operational asset and an industrial opportunity, the minister said the UK is aiming to become a key partner in its global sustainment and export.

“Our long-term aim is to grow the UK industrial base in support of Wedgetail, including potentially to support NATO and other global customers as they commit to E-7 in future years,” he said. “We have to ensure these platforms are exportable, that there is a work share for British companies, and that defence can be a real engine for growth.”

He promised further detail in the coming months. “Members will also know that we hope to publish the defence industrial strategy in due course and, towards the end of the year, the defence investment plan. That will set out what we are spending, not just on kit and equipment, but on infrastructure and people.”

Though critics remain concerned over the capability gap left by the Sentry’s retirement, the minister said confidence is building as the aircraft nears operational testing. “This is a detailed process to demonstrate that each system operates as designed. The aim is to bring this vital platform into service without compromise.”

Pollard concluded with a clear message to industry.

“As a new Government coming in, we committed to look at purchasing new E-7 Wedgetails, as part of the recommendation in the SDR, when the economic conditions allow. That is a vote of confidence in the platform, and it is part of our ambition to improve defence procurement. Boeing and the partners in the supply chain should be in no doubt that we expect the aircraft we ordered to be delivered, to be operational, and to make a valid contribution to filling the gap that the last Government created when they axed the previous aircraft providing this capability. I am happy to ensure that a copy of the detailed notes are shared with the House, so that answers to the questions put to me are properly provided.”