Australia displays E-7A Wedgetail
The Australian Air Task Group's (ATG) E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft was displayed at Australia’s main air operating base in the Middle East region for coalition partners, it was announced on 9 June.
Most of the attendees at the capability display were US Air Force (USAF) personnel. The ATG operates as part of a US-led coalition in the Middle East. It operates the E-7A Wedgetail as well as six F/A-18A Hornets and a KC-30A multi-role tanker transport air-to-air refuelling aircraft. The ATG also has personnel embedded in the US 'KingPin' Tactical Command and Control Unit and the Combined Air and Space Operations Centre.
Ft Lt Adam Nelson, E-7A Wedgetail co-pilot, ATG, said: ‘It was a great opportunity for us to further strengthen the network between us and our coalition operators, and command and control partners. It was especially good to meet those operating the USAF E-3 Sentry command and control aircraft, as well as those working within the 'Kingpin' US Tactical Command and Control Unit – between us and them we control all of the airspace over Iraq and Syria.
‘We’ve not only had E-3 aircrew and KingPin controllers; we’ve also had a lot of operators such as USAF F-22, F-15 and C-17 pilots. When seeing our aircraft inside and up-close, the USAF personnel seemed very interested in the technological differences between the RAAF E-7A and the USAF E-3 – being a newer aircraft means that we have a lot more system integration, leading to a different crew operating model. It was a good to be able to show some of the USAF aircrew – people we regularly work with while airborne – some of our capabilities and limitations first-hand.’
More from Digital Battlespace
-
Push for greater use of open source data, says senior British officer
The huge amount of open source data available may not carry the weight of secret sources but it does carry substantial value, according to speakers at Defence IQ C4ISR Global conference in London.
-
Jacobs wins MoD cyber-security support contract
The deal with Jacobs will run until November 2027 and will see the company deliver a range of digital and IT specialist professional services to Defence Digital.
-
Orbit upgrades two multi-purpose terminals and carries out land testing
The communications company has upgraded two of its Beyond Line-of-Sight Multi-Purpose Terminals (MBTs) by introducing advancements in satellite communication technology and AI-driven maintenance capabilities.
-
Norway to receive maritime surveillance satellite data from Kongsberg
Norway's Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace has announced that its subsidiary Kongsberg NanoAvionics will produce three satellites and launch them in 2025.
-
First South Korean 425 Project observation satellite launched
In 2015, South Korea named a consortium of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Hanwha Systems, along with Thales Alenia Space providing the SAR payload derived from its HE-R1000 product, as preferred bidder to develop new Korea 425 Project reconnaissance satellites.
-
German military introduces central command and new cyber branch
The German defence minister claimed the reforms would mean the 2025 military budget would require an additional €6.5 billion (US$7 billion).