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UK orders Boeing E7...

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UK orders Boeing E7...

Old 22nd Mar 2019, 11:31
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UK orders Boeing E7...

It says so here...

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has signed a $1.98Bn deal to purchase five E-7 aircraft.
The E-7 fleet will replace the current Sentry aircraft and ensure the continued delivery of the UK’s Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capability.Named “Wedgetail” by the Australian Department for Defence, the E-7 aircraft can fly for long periods of time and manage the battlespace from the sky.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:The E-7 provides a technological edge in an increasingly complex battlespace, allowing our ships and aircraft to track and target adversaries more effectively than ever. This deal also strengthens our vital military partnership with Australia.
We will operate state-of-the-art F-35 jets and world-class Type-26 warships, and this announcement will help us work even more closely together to tackle the global threats we face.

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, said:Today’s announcement about the procurement of five E-7 ‘Wedgetail’ Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft is excellent news for both the RAF and wider Defence.
This world-class capability, already proven with our Royal Australian Air Force partners, will significantly enhance our ability to deliver decisive airborne command and control and builds on the reputation of our E3D Sentry Force.Along with Defence’s investment in other cutting-edge aircraft, E-7 will form a core element of the Next Generation Air Force, able to overcome both current and future complex threats.

The new fleet will be able to track multiple airborne and maritime targets at the same time, using the information it gathers to provide situational awareness and direct other assets such as fighter jets and warships.
The E-7 is a proven aircraft that is currently in-service with the Royal Australian Air Force and has been used on operations in the battle against Daesh in Iraq and Syria.

The E-7 is based on a standard Boeing 737 NG airliner modified to carry a sophisticated Northrop Grumman active electronically-scanned radar.
This can cover four million square kilometres over a 10-hour period.Modification of the aircraft will be carried out in the UK, sustaining over 200 highly skilled jobs at Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group in Cambridge, and there will also be opportunities for British suppliers to be involved in future training and support arrangements.

This announcement builds on a growing military capability and industrial relationship between the UK and Australia, after the Australian government selected the British Type 26 design for its future frigate.
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 11:52
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I wonder if we'll call it the Wedgetail like they do Down Under?
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 12:10
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I wonder how much we are going to change the design so that it meets UK requirements?...
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 12:16
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And will we lead on the proposed mid-life updates, absorbing the costs and risks?.
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 12:20
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Marshalls of Cambridge are modifying them?

i hope that goes smoother than the Tristar upgrades.
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 12:24
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Originally Posted by Saintsman
I wonder how much we are going to change the design so that it meets UK requirements?...
I thought the usual UK method was to rip out all the perfectly good equipment, give loads of money to BAE to integrate an untested, questionable, mix of gear to get it to the proper level of UK content....
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 12:28
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I’m confused.

Isn’t this a good news story? Why are the first several posts all so bl00dy miserable?!

BV
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 12:36
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I wonder if we'll call it the Wedgetail like they do Down Under?
Possibly the Wedgie here, as there are bound to be cracks appear

Just let's hope we have sufficent numbers in place to fly them. mind you it makes leaving for Queasyjet etc much smoother having 737 experience
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 12:42
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Originally Posted by Bob Viking
Isn’t this a good news story? Why are the first several posts all so bl00dy miserable?!

BV
Bob,

You're correct it is good news, but don't be too harsh. Cynicism is often born from experience above all else.
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 13:02
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Great news of this future purchase, my only slight concern is five replacing seven aircraft !
obviously it comes down to money,is the five enough?
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 13:29
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5 will be far more serviceable/reliable than the current “7”. And more capable at the same time.

but yes, it would be nice if the RAF could get a couple more.
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 13:30
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Fallmonk, it seems only four E-3s are currently available for ops.
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 13:43
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It would be 5 replacing 6, the seventh one was removed from service years ago and stripped down.
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 13:45
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Originally Posted by sandiego89
I thought the usual UK method was to rip out all the perfectly good equipment, give loads of money to BAE to integrate an untested, questionable, mix of gear to get it to the proper level of UK content....
That depends on if we are buying the platform as a Foreign Military Sale like the P-8s. If that is the case you contractually won't be able to rip anything out good or bad.
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 14:29
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With the contract value given in dollars rather than pounds, let's all hope Brexit is the success that's been promised. If it's not and the pound tanks this is going to become very unaffordable very quickly, magic money tree or not.
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 18:25
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Wll it have the Max's software?

CG
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 20:02
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No, it's NG
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 20:04
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Do they come with a free tanker?
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 20:38
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Probably buy them, get them stripped out and leased to Ryanair like the Air Taker 330s!
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Old 22nd Mar 2019, 20:44
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Why no orders from the USAF?

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