Defence Minister Maria Eagle has confirmed that the RAF’s new E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft is flying under a standard Military Permit To Fly during testing, and not under any form of “special clearance.”
Responding to a series of parliamentary questions from Mark Francois MP, Eagle stated: “The Wedgetail is not flying under any special clearance. The aircraft Test and Evaluation programme is being conducted under a Military Permit To Fly in accordance with Military Aviation Authority regulations.”
She added that this certification allows Boeing to operate the aircraft during trials, with full Release to Service to follow upon delivery.
Eagle also clarified that the aircraft’s radar and battle management systems were not active during the 10 July test flight. “This flight was a post-modification test flight to confirm the aircraft systems function correctly. Mission system testing will commence in autumn 2025 as part of a planned Test and Evaluation schedule.”
Asked about international developments, including NATO’s potential acquisition of Saab’s GlobalEye platform, Eagle said: “Procurement decisions by any other NATO nation are fully a matter for that nation and NATO.” She reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to Wedgetail, citing its superior performance. “Wedgetail has superior speed, range, persistence and crew capacity over alternative platforms. Furthermore, the Wedgetail has a more powerful radar with increased detection capability providing far earlier threat detection against more challenging targets at range.”
Contrary to speculation that the aircraft would be supported overseas, Eagle confirmed the UK fleet will be maintained domestically. “The UK E-7 will be supported and maintained in the United Kingdom. Following the approval of the Full Business Case, the sustainment contract is under negotiation.”
When asked about South Korea’s reported exploration of alternatives to its own E-7 fleet, Eagle responded: “Procurement decisions by any other nation are fully a matter for that nation.”
Not sure why anyone would be making an issue of this. If the RAF cannot be trusted to establish the basis upon which planes are in the air we are in a desperate place. Let them get on with it.
I read she was at Boscombe recently. I’d have liked to get down there, I used to go there quite a bit.
That will have had to be more about setting up the radar in the instrumented hangar I would guess?
Haven’t the foggiest.
NATO potential acquisition of GlobalEye? I thought NATO had already committed to Wedgetail; is that now up in the air again due to US abandonment of the programme?