The Royal Air Force has revealed the livery of its new E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft.

According to a news release, the three aircraft will be operated by VIII Squadron from RAF Lossiemouth whose Arabian dagger badge appears on the tail fin.

“The dagger, known as a jambiya, was adopted in recognition of the unit’s long association with Arabia and is sheathed to symbolise the Squadron’s guardian duties. On the nose is the shield of the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force, reflecting the UK’s commitment to continue to provide the Alliance with air surveillance, command and control, aerospace battle management and communications.”

Air Commodore Hicks, Wedgetail Programme Senior Responsible Owner, was quoted as saying:

“To see the jambiya of 8 Squadron and NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force shield brought to life on the Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning Mk1 livery reflects our continued commitment to NATO, and marks a significant step in delivery of this capability.”

The RAF add that the Wedgetail, which is being procured for the RAF by Defence Equipment and Support, provides long-range air surveillance and control of an area of operations.

Image shows graphic of the Wedgetail aircraft.

“It uses a Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) Sensor and on-board passive systems to collect information to provide the crew with a real-time picture of aircraft and ships present across a broad area of responsibility. The crew use this information to provide direction and guidance to aircraft and commanders on the ground.”

The plan, previously, was five aircraft but the recent ‘Defence Command Paper’ reduced the order from five to three. The Defence Command Paper released, titled ‘Defence in a Competitive Age’, stated:

“We will retire the E 3D Sentry in 2021, as part of the transition to the more modern and more capable fleet of three E 7A Wedgetail in 2023. The E 7A will transform our UK Airborne Early Warning and Control capability and the UK’s contribution to NATO. The nine P 8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will help to secure our seas.”

The first of the E-7 Wedgetails purchased by the UK to replace the E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning And Control aircraft will arrive in 2023.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
Twitter

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

108 COMMENTS

  2. I’d be more interested if that headline read

    “RAF reveal review paint job numbers for new E-7 early warning aircraft”

      • Well its true! Not many nations can afford these. I’d like 5 but there you go. And I’d rather have 3 than none at all.

        • There is something in what you say mate but I’m still a bit disappointed we couldn’t have stretched to the 5. Hey ho, you’re right, better than nothing.

          • We did want 5, until those b******* at Boeing increased the price for the last 2 by, what was it, another billion?

            In a way we’re right to tell them to shove it. Paying that extra would impact something else.

          • Hi Daniele M
            If Boeing upped the price, perhaps we should of told them to put them all where the sun does not shine and bought something else…
            A bit like Ajax , sort it or we will not buy anything else from you for 10 years

          • Yeah, you’re right and I get why we did, a part of me thinks that we might have played hardball with them but we maybe did. Who knows, I’m pleased that we seem to be getting better in some respects like with the T31’s but I still have a residual despair about how much the MOD pays for stuff based on experience.😞

          • Like only buying 6 Type 45s instead of the required 12. Then being surprised when the ammortised cost is £1bn per ship.

          • The first 3 are conversions of existing used airframes. The cancelled 2 were to be new builds. The civilian versions of the 737NG are no longer made (stopped in 2019). The military P8, based off the 800 model is the only one still in active production with new orders still rolling in. The E7 is based off the 700 model & there are no current orders. Boeing are happy to build the E7, but a special run of 2 aircraft with no likelihood of more? The only hope now is piggy backing off likely USAF orders in 5 or 6 years time, or more conversions.

          • Ok, that does make more sense from Boeings POV. Wonder why the order was 3-2 and not just conversions?

          • Didn’t know that. You are the font of all knowledge🎓. Well, some of mine anyway!

        • I really like this aircraft but could the Brits have bought more of something else like the Swedish AEW aircraft? From all I’ve read it’s an excellent aircraft with very good, modern sensors. Cheaper to operate and only major downside would be the number of stations it can accommidate in the cabin. 3 is just not enough. 1 used for training, another in maintenance, upgrades and that leave just 1 for operations. Ugh

          • So long as our enemies promise not to shoot one down & the RAF promises no more than one will break down or have an accident at any one time, we should manage fine with just 3….

        • Greetings D. I think there is a strong possibility the RAF will receive a further pair. Seems like you guys are having a cracker of a summer!

  5. Before we get the Pant Wetters moaning, we are only buying 3. as follows USAF have just issued a order for a Flyable prototype of the E-7s for the USAF by 2023, 2nd by 2024. upgraded to meet the USAF requirements. USAF are looking to replace its E-3s at a ratio of 3 to 1. 3 RAF aircraft allows base layer coverage for 3 years, no airframe in deep Maintenace as they have all been done. so UK could piggyback on the USAF order as advised by our USA comrades to have an upgraded E-7s. rather than 5 outdated examples. SOMEONE SOMEWHERE has been very clever, but that doesn’t satisfy the WE SHOULD HAVE A 100 Brigade.

    Its in a report from the NAO concerning the E-7s just in case. sometimes procurement gets it right….

    • There are a lot of assumptions in what you have just said. There is no evidence that the MOD has any plans to order any more than the first three airframes. Could and may are no replacement for “definitely or will”.

      • But, there **might** be a grain of truth in this.

        Having been burned by the BIV F35B fiasco maybe MOD has decided that it is bette to wait it out?

        The only problem with @johan’s rosy picture is that is there are not another couple of purchases pretty pronto then they will start disappearing into deep maintenance.

        • It would be good if we could get a couple more ordered. We shall see in the next year or so if it’s wisdom or penny-pinching.

    • Wrong, completely wrong.

      The USAF is ordering their first prototype in 2023, but delivery wont happen until 2027.

      The second USAF prototype will be ordered in 2024, likely to be delivered in 2028,

      A decision on production aircraft is not due until 2025, which means operational USAF aircraft are unlikely to reach IOC until the very late 2020s.

      Read the USAF press release:

      https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3011056/air-force-identifies-boeing-e-7-as-solution-to-replace-the-e-3-capability/

      • Well the raf have none just now so 3 will be much better. How many crews they have will be the more important question. Anyone know how many crews were running on the E3 at the end?
        Let’s hope the us airforce don’t go totally nuts and redesign the whole thing. Making it 10x more expensive and about as long as the tanker to get into service.

        • Yes it’s true the RAF have none currently, but production has started, yes? And obviously a configuration has been selected, most likely based on the RAAF configuration.

          What is unknown is if and when the USAF will order production versions of the E-7A, and how different it might be to the current configuration.

          So the fantasy being spread by some here is that the UK could order a couple extra from the future USAF production run.

          The risk obviously is they could be a very different configuration compared to the three currently being manufactured.

          Anyway, if the UK wanted more than the three currently planned, it would be smarter to add to the existing UK production run.

    • Following what happened with piggybacking off the JLTV program, which we subsequently cancelled, I’m not sure we’d save any money that way. We might be forced into a higher spec instead.

  6. Even though I’d like more I’d rather funding for anti-ship and ARM missiles for the fighter fleet over a couple more of these if money was available

  8. From a quick google, the tail fin seems to jut into the fairing around the base of the radar on the UK Wedgetail, but not on other countries’, will the UK’s be a slightly different variant?

  9. Only three? So what happens when one is out of action for servicing and a second develops a fault?
    Planes do that you know?

      • I’m seeing the writing on the wall and he is so slippery that I reckon he will win and be the next PM, no matter what we, the peasants think! The Tory party members will go for it I reckon!

      • Sorry mate, I think we have to see the writing on the wall, he will be PM, though certainly not my choice!

        • Unfortunately, I think you’re right, AB. It looks like it will be a final match between him and Penny. But, much as i’d like to see Penny get the job – and I think she would be a good PM – Rishi will then have all the other big hitters behind him, all wanting the big jobs when he gets in.

          • People are trying to ‘dis’ Penny for incompetence in a former job, keeping a low profile etc, so it might be a run-off between Rishi and Liz.
            Hope we keep Ben as DS.

          • If Mordaunt makes it to the last two she’ll walk it against anyone else. Sunak has too much baggage and Truss doesn’t have a brain.

          • Whilst the phrase “all fur coat and no knickers” comes to mind, that’s not necessarily the worst thing if she knows how to select and delegate to smart people.

          • No. she’s not but not all good managers are good natural speakers. Last nights boring fiasco had one natural speaker which was Richi Sunak. Does that make him the best leader? I liked Kemi and Tom for what they said but for me I think it should probably be Liz or Penny. Mind you I backed Jeremy Hunt last time so what do I know.

          • That was my thinking, the membership support her even if the corrupt rich MPs don’t.

    • If it was up to him we wouldn’t have any. Doesn’t do to spend money that doesn’t benefit yourself or your rich mates.

    • Apart from several years when I went to UKIP/Brexit party over the Tories behaviour I have voted Tory all my life, and not the SWP far left wing morons or the far left of the LP, which would creep back if Labour won.

      There are good types on all sides, and your second sentence is insulting.

      Now F off.

    • Another one with a true command of ethical behavior, the technical term for which is, believe, Dickhead.

  12. Would I like, like many others on this site six of these aircraft, yes, but can we afford them at the moment. Not sure. However there could be a more cost effective method for more the SAAB GlobalEye. The GlobalEye could be forward based for example in Estonia, Cyprus, Falklands etc and the E-7 for longer range work such as operating of the North of Scotland, Norway. The E-7/GlobalEye mix could also cause a potential enemy some headaches as they will have two diffrent types of electronic suites to cope with. Only an idea, but one I think worth looking into.

    In all reality three is not enough taking into account time to station and return, time in maintance etc. Three would only work if all NATO nations pooled their AEW aircraft into a single command.

    • Effectively that is the way that NATO AEW Force Command works. It recognises the UK contribution by giving the Deputy Force Commander position to an RAF Air Cdre. As the UK owns its contribution, unlike the NATO E3s which are owned by NATO and paid for by the contributing Nations, it retains the right to use its aircraft for National tasking. What will be interesting to see is how the RAF’s smaller contribution than in the past changes its its standing if at all and, now that Sweden is joining NATO, will it throw in its AEW force to the NATO AEWF. Probably not at first but I can see joint tasking work.

  13. I read a book recently explaining how the MoD project manager for the Seaking AEW fought against a similar proposed cut in numbers, and won. Seems it’s a common problem, the outcome depending very much on someone’s willingness to fight the beancounters.

  14. Disappointing the MOD/RAF haven’t confirmed when the Airfix kit will be released and the Humbrol paint numbers required for the proposed colour of the aircraft.

    And yes, we need more of these aircraft, probably 7 or 8.

    • Are the amount of RAF aircraft deployable limited to the amount of 5 star hotels available in theatre? Asking for a friend 🙂

      • No point going to war and living in a hole in the ground if you don’t have to. I can recommend quite a number of 5* hotels thank you very much

  16. On the subject of who is going to be next P.M. I do have a favourite but whatever happens I hope it’s one of the girls. Am I allowed to say girls?

    • At a glance and seen as I watched most of the debate on mute I go for kemi. She came her at 16 and knows what it’s like to be at the bottom of the pile working at fast food places and how to better herself to be where she is now.
      Tom would be the other pick.
      The other 3 all have a smell of Boris about them.
      Sunak is a posh boy married to a tax dodger. There’s a clip of him saying he has friends from all backgrounds expect the working classes. He’s been chancellor for 3 years and now says he can fix the economy. He has an image problem. Teflon Rishi.
      The other 2 ladies equally aren’t great when you dig down a bit. People who they have worked for previously have said they were near on useless.
      Anyway that’s my 2 mins research on them. I could be totally wrong and I hope whoever it is, does a good job and makes a difference to my life for the better. Also I hope they can last a year or 2 without there own party turning on them.

      • Well, it probably won’t matter to you and me. It’s all a bit yuk. I think Kemi has got a lot going for her. Young, attractive and probably more to the point a good brain. Even if she doesn’t win I’m sure we will see more of her.

  17. I seem to remember that these three E-7s are built on ‘previously-owned’ airframes. Therefore, I suggest that we lobby for the new Prime Minister, whom I trust will be one of the candidates that have stated we should increase defence spending, to add two or more E-7s to the defence budget, which we could also use ‘previously-owned airframes’ rather than new Boeing ones, together with the spending to increase the number of aircrews to man these additional vital resources.

    • Yeah one of the airframes is from a Chinese airline. Was a business jet in it previous life. Possibly silk air but I may be wrong. Brain doesn’t work so well later on in the day

  18. Also need more poseidons.Id say more a priority than more E7s.I would also like to see a smaller maritime patrol aircraft to augment the Poseidons .like a maritime bombardier.

  19. Air Commodore Alex Hicks, responsible owner for the RAF P8 & E7 assets has confirmed that the decision to reduce the E7 order from 5 to 3 was ‘wholly a ministerial decision’ made prior to the Ukraine crisis and that he absolutely will putting in a bid for additional airframes, ideally looking at up to 3 more……..
    USAF personnel will also be on board during the test and evaluation phase of the UK E7. Hicks has stated that the re-establishment of the UKs lapsed AEW capability is essential to National Security.
    The third airframe for conversion has arrived in the UK and referred to as a ‘new build’. IOC is expected in 2024.

    • Hicks briefed that the E7 programme was almost cut completely and was saved through the intervention of the the Defence secretary He also briefed that the USAF proposed purchase gives hope for the future that the aircraft will become more affordable for the UK (according to Shepard News). Given the timescales of the US programme its difficult to see any real cost saving for the UK but time will tell

      • He’s putting in for additional airframes so let’s hope something comes of our close co-operation with the US.

  20. Great(?) to see us firmly associating with a regime that murders & chops journalists to bits even in foriegn countries.

  21. Britain is supposed to be a world power but wants it on the cheap don’t see France cutting it armed forces 7 AWAC down to 3 don’t make me laugh

  23. US Defence media talk of pressure being brought by Congress on Sec Def to bring forward the two prototype E7s with an order placed for both in FY22. Their concern appears to be the overlong prototype assessment and the Gap in capability if 15 E3s are sent to the boneyard next year to fund the E7 prototypes.. Its a long shot at this time, but I have read that the US might have ‘observers’ in the UK team testing out the UK E7s as this is likely to be the basis for standard they will buy. If the testing is done to the same common standards it could advance some aspects of the US programme. More ‘joint ness’ with the USAF would be good for the UK programme overall and might ease the way for additional purchases by the UK in time. It would also put pressure on Boeing and NG to deliver on time. I have long argued that the weakness of the UK programme is the lack of an existing production line to call on as problems arise at the UK line. A US production line could be a shot in the arm for for the UK programme.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here