UK orders Boeing E7...
I don't think it is official (yet), I have seen a story that Boeing is trying to convince HMG they can afford four. Recent press releases from Boeing UK and STS don't include a fleet number unlike some earlier ones. Speculation suggests no maintenance contract was put in place and the likely costs of it plus training are the issue. A side issue is that the E-3 OSD is 12 months before E-7 Entry into Service.
MoD seems to have been avoiding answering the question.
Written Question on 22 SEP 2020 reply 28 SEP 2020
[QUOTE]Kevan Jones MP (Labour) (ex Defence Minister and Shadow Defence Minister), Member of the Defence & Intelligence and Security Committees
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what capability gap would be created for the Royal Air Force in the event that the order for five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft is reduced to three?
Jeremy Quin MP, Minister of State (MoD)
Reply
None. The E-7 Wedgetail is a step change in capability and reliability and meets the urgent need for an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capability as a critical enabler to UK military capability.
The transition from Sentry to E-7 Wedgetail will not result in any reduction in current capability.[/QUOTE]
If the existing capability is as f**ked as some have said then dragging Shacks and Gannets out of museums wouldn't represent a reduction in capability. Yes, I'm being facetious but 3 clapped out E-3s replaced by 3 new E-7s obviously wouldn't be a reduction in a capability which is severely degraded.
MoD seems to have been avoiding answering the question.
Written Question on 22 SEP 2020 reply 28 SEP 2020
[QUOTE]Kevan Jones MP (Labour) (ex Defence Minister and Shadow Defence Minister), Member of the Defence & Intelligence and Security Committees
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what capability gap would be created for the Royal Air Force in the event that the order for five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft is reduced to three?
Jeremy Quin MP, Minister of State (MoD)
Reply
None. The E-7 Wedgetail is a step change in capability and reliability and meets the urgent need for an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capability as a critical enabler to UK military capability.
The transition from Sentry to E-7 Wedgetail will not result in any reduction in current capability.[/QUOTE]
If the existing capability is as f**ked as some have said then dragging Shacks and Gannets out of museums wouldn't represent a reduction in capability. Yes, I'm being facetious but 3 clapped out E-3s replaced by 3 new E-7s obviously wouldn't be a reduction in a capability which is severely degraded.
As I read the press release, the empty airframes will be flown here, then STS will remove S 46 in the rear fuselage, fit the new section 46 (with the radar mount) then re-assemble the fuselage and install the mission systems.
So 'conversion' rather than assembly
I don't think the 'used' airframes for the UK have been publically identified yet, not whther they will be -700 airframes (As per RAAF) or -800 (as rumoured). Wouldn't be like us to screw things up by having a different airframe :-)
Just confirmed by local MP that E7 to be based at Lossie alongside P8. Makes sense I suppose but Lossie is going to be one hell of a base. Is this all part of a negotiating ploy when Nicola gets her way?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...tland-55351077
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Must say, didn't see that one coming although it makes some sense.
Whither Waddo?
Runway's too short for the RJ, Shadow doesn't need 9,000', Sentinel's off, Reaper et al probably won't fly from there. So just the Arrows...
Whither Waddo?
Runway's too short for the RJ, Shadow doesn't need 9,000', Sentinel's off, Reaper et al probably won't fly from there. So just the Arrows...
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https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles...ased-in-moray/
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Waddington will have to have a few more detached squadrons going in to make full use of the base!!
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Don't know what the sim situation is going to be but a lot of circuit bashing is going synthetic anyway these days. It should be possible to have one front-end sim for both types, just flick a switch to go from P-8 to E-7. Depends on how common the flight deck is obviously.
Idle Friday Speculation
Although it seems to make sense from the point of view of airframe commonality and being slightly more up threat, is this further signalling a reduction in the E-7 order?
With 8 going back to Lossie and 5 for the chop, if 51 go elsewhere as speculated, does it make operational sense to consolidate 14 and 54 at Lossie so the 'Locally Piloted' ISTAR force isn't split over three stations? Waddo then becomes the centre for RPAS and when 216 becomes fully operational swarm technology with RAFAT for company.
(My naughty thought was they are a piloted swarm)
Does anyone know if XIII or 39 will disband once 31 becomes fully operational on Protector or will it be in addition to the existing squadrons?
With 8 going back to Lossie and 5 for the chop, if 51 go elsewhere as speculated, does it make operational sense to consolidate 14 and 54 at Lossie so the 'Locally Piloted' ISTAR force isn't split over three stations? Waddo then becomes the centre for RPAS and when 216 becomes fully operational swarm technology with RAFAT for company.
(My naughty thought was they are a piloted swarm)Does anyone know if XIII or 39 will disband once 31 becomes fully operational on Protector or will it be in addition to the existing squadrons?
Last edited by SLXOwft; 19th Dec 2020 at 09:58. Reason: missing -al
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Not without serious money being spent on properly refurbishing the place. It cost millions just to get it fit enough to use for limited Poseidon and Typhoon Ops during Lossie bolthole.
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