Boeing secures $569 million contract to support Royal Australian Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail
Boeing delivered the last E-7 Wedgetail to the RAAF in 2011. (Photo: Australian DoD / LACW Annika Smit)
The fleet of six E-7A Wedgetail aircraft is based at RAAF Base Williamtown and will reportedly support up to 170 jobs in the region.
Boeing Defence Australia has signed an AU$569 million (US$359 million) maintenance contract with the Australian government for the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) fleet of E-7 Wedgetail surveillance aircraft.
Announced by the government, the contract will reportedly deliver enhancements to the E-7 aircraft and ground systems, enabling the aircraft to be upgraded and maintained “over the next decade”.
The RAAF operates six E-7 aircraft, which are stationed at its base in Williamtown. In 2018, Boeing signed a new contract that allowed for the upgrade and sustainment of the RAAF’s Wedgetail fleet into 2035. As noted by Shephard Defence Insight, lifecycle upgrades and sustainment are valued at more than AU$1.5 billion (US$1 billion).
According to the government, the latest contract will support 170 jobs in the region and sustain around 360 defence and industry personnel who support the Wedgetail fleet.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said: “The Albanese Government continues to invest in the capabilities needed for our Defence Force. We’ve seen how important this capability is, most recently through its deployment to Europe helping to provide early warning for potential threats from Russia under Operation Kudu.”
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![USAF eyes sensor and weapon upgrades as MH-139A Grey Wolf achieves IOC]()
USAF eyes sensor and weapon upgrades as MH-139A Grey Wolf achieves IOC
The Grey Wolf has entered operational service nearly three years later than originally planned, while new sustainment contracts indicate that some UH-1Ns could remain supported until 2031.
-
![Extending mission readiness: where XR adds real value in pilot, crew and maintenance training]()
Extending mission readiness: where XR adds real value in pilot, crew and maintenance training
Extended reality (XR) is becoming increasingly relevant in military aviation training, adding a flexible layer to an integrated ecosystem spanning the pilot, crew, and maintenance domains.
-
![US military tests AI-powered CUAS turret against drone swarms]()
US military tests AI-powered CUAS turret against drone swarms
As the US continues to invest heavily in counter-drone systems, demand for low-cost, mobile and autonomous technologies is on the rise, with Edda designed to align with these emerging requirements.
-
![August crewed air review: KC-390 momentum builds as demand in the tanker market grows]()
August crewed air review: KC-390 momentum builds as demand in the tanker market grows
The KC-390 is building a growing international operator base, but competition in the transport and tanker market is increasingly likely to depend on interoperability, commonality and the strength of supporting ecosystems. Meanwhile, Boeing’s KC-46 and Airbus’s A330 also gained ground in August.
