The E-7A Wedgetail provides Australia with one of the most advanced airspace battle management capabilities in the world. The Wedgetail’s ability to coordinate a joint air, sea and land battle in real time significantly increases the effectiveness of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

Operated by No. 2 Squadron, Air Force’s 6 E-7A Wedgetail aircraft are based at RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle.

Based on the Boeing 737-700 series aircraft, the Wedgetail has been modified for the modern battlespace. Simultaneous tracking of airborne and maritime targets is made possible through the addition of:

• an advanced Northrop Grumman Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar
• 10 state-of-the-art mission crew consoles.

The Wedgetail combines long-range surveillance radar, secondary radar and tactical/strategic voice and data communications systems to provide an airborne early warning and control platform.

During a standard mission, the E-7A Wedgetail can cover more than four million square kilometres, an area the size of Western Australia or the Northern Territory. It is capable of unlimited long-range deployment with in-flight refuelling.

Specifications