Australian Wedgetail aircraft reaches IOC
The Australian Defence Force’s Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Wedgetail aircraft has achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) according to an announcement by Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare on 19 November.
The Wedgetail aircraft will provide the Royal Australian Air Force with airborne surveillance, communications and battle management capabilities. The aircraft, based on the Boeing 737, can fly at an altitude of 10,000 metres and maintain surveillance over a surface area of 400,000 square kilometres at any given time. Over a 10-hour mission the Wedgetail can cover over 4 million square kilometres.
Jason Clare said of the milestone: ‘I particularly want to thank the team at Boeing for their commitment to this project. This is a very complex piece of military hardware. The project faced a lot of challenges. We have met these challenges by working together. Australia now has one of the most advanced air battlespace management capabilities in the world. The Wedgetail is the big brain in the battlespace. It knows more about what’s going on in a war zone than anything else.’
The Wedgetail project was approved in 2000 with a budget of $3.45 billion to procure six 737-700 commercial aircraft which were then fitted with an advanced multi-role electronically scanned radar and ten mission crew consoles. Since 2011 Wedgetail has participated in Exercise Bersama Lima in Malaysia, Exercise Cope North Guam, Exercise Bersama Shield, Exercise Red Flag, Alaska and most recently Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![Orolia releases GSG-7 GNSS signal testing solution]()
Orolia releases GSG-7 GNSS signal testing solution
GSG-7 simulator is designed to deliver a higher standard of GNSS signal testing in a cost-effective, easy-to-use, turnkey form factor.
-
![US issues electromagnetic battle management system contract]()
US issues electromagnetic battle management system contract
The US hopes that combining electromagnetic warfare capabilities in the sea, air, and land domains would generate enhanced combat effects.
-
![A Five Eyes Connection – preparing our militaries for the future battlefield (Studio)]()
A Five Eyes Connection – preparing our militaries for the future battlefield (Studio)
With the rise of increasingly assertive rivals like China and Russia, the Five Eyes allies are preparing their militaries for an uncertain future.
-
![AeroVironment releases Puma VNS for GPS-contested drone navigation]()
AeroVironment releases Puma VNS for GPS-contested drone navigation
Puma 2 AE and Puma AE 3 operators will be able to fly their drones even if no GPS is available.
-
![Rheinmetall joins Helsing to accelerate AI for land systems]()
Rheinmetall joins Helsing to accelerate AI for land systems
German companies team up to apply digital capabilities at speed for land forces.
-
![MAPS Gen II rolls into production to harden US Army vehicles against jamming and spoofing]()
MAPS Gen II rolls into production to harden US Army vehicles against jamming and spoofing
Collins Aerospace has received a deal to supply the US Army with production Mounted Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing System Gen II units.
