Australia Boeing 737 AEW&C

two raaf wedgetails @ exercise red flag 2013

australia ordered 4 aew&c aircraft options 3 additional aircraft. australia has since taken 2 of options. aircraft deliveries begin in 2006, significant program delays due integration problems have occurred. first 2 wedgetail aircraft assembled , underwent testing in seattle, washington. remaining aircraft assembled boeing australia.

for australian aircraft, boeing , northrop teamed boeing australia, , bae systems australia. boeing australia provide training, maintenance , support, bae provides ewsp systems, electronic support measures (esm) systems , ground support systems.

on 29 june 2006, australian minister defence, brendan nelson, announced boeing had informed australian government wedgetail project had fallen behind schedule. according nelson s press release, company had maintained project on schedule. boeing announced 18-month delay, due problems integrating radar , sensor computer systems, , not expected deliver aircraft until 2009. additionally, boeing took $770 million in charges in 2006 delayed aircraft. furthermore, on 20 june 2008 boeing announced delay australian program, due integration of radar , electronic support measure (esm) systems.

on 16 march 2009, boeing demonstrated control of 3 scaneagle uas wedgetail aew&c aircraft.

on 26 november 2009, boeing delivered first 2 737 aew&c aircraft royal australian air force (raaf). these aircraft remained boeing owned , operated, on 5 may 2010 raaf formally accepted these aircraft service. raaf accepted sixth 737 aew&c aircraft on 5 june 2012; last of wedgetail australia had on order. australian aircraft operated no. 2 squadron raaf , based @ raaf base williamtown permanent detachment @ raaf base tindal. in november 2012, wedgetail aircraft achieved initial operational capability.

on 1 april 2014, first operational sortie occurred air control of maritime patrol aircraft taking part in search malaysia airlines flight 370 off coast of western australia.

on 1 october 2014, wedgetail conducted first australian sortie on iraq supporting coalition forces conducting airstrikes against islamic state of iraq , levant (isil). in january 2015, australian e-7a performed longest australian command , control mission in war zone during 16-hour, 18-minute combat mission on iraq, requiring 2 air-to-air refuelings stay aloft. australian wedgetail crews routinely perform 13-hour missions. in april 2016, rotation 5 of aircrew , maintenance personnel had been operating raaf wedgetail in middle east achieved record 100 percent mission success rate in coalition operations against isis (also called daesh). e-7a conducted 36 missions, each lasting upwards of 12 hours, amounting 500 hours of flying 1 aircraft.

on 26 may 2015, australia s fleet of 6 e-7a wedgetail airborne warning & control (aew&c) aircraft achieved final operational capability (foc). occurred after aircraft supported search operations mh370 , took part in operation okra, flying 1,200 hours during more 100 sorties in fight against isil.