Wedgetail
 

I keep hearing the word Wedgetail used at ISTAR Central. Rumour has it that the E-3D's aren't keeping well??

RAAF Boeing E-7A Wedgetail is deployed on a rotational basis from No2 Sqn to the ME...has Northrop Grumman MESA radar with ELINT capability. With IFR they stay airborne for hours...RAAF has six..

Thread needs a pic...

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2005/...b__430x298.jpg

Aside from being based on the same basic airframe, how similar are the Wedgetails to the P8s? Many shared components?

I realise the devil is in the detail but a fleet of P8 Poseidon’s - with some fitted for future AAS Radar (if we’re permitted to buy it) and E7 Wedgetails would give the RAF;

Airframe commonality (relatively speaking).
The ability to draw upon previous CFM-56 expertise from E3D and RJ.
A not unreasonable possibility of pooling pilots, simulators etc.

Therefore you could have in the near-mid term a Nimrod and E3D replacement with a viable option to replace Sentinel. Though I admit there would be a degree of ‘Jack of All Trades’, surely it would be more efficient - especially if we are potentially hurting for future Aircrew Numbers and money etc?

...not to mention type-commonality for a career path to Ryanair for any pilot prepared to endure the abuse

Let's remember we don't have a pot to **** in and the P8 numbers will probably be slashed in the next defence review. Get the AEW Shackleton airborne again I say!

I seriously doubt that P8 numbers will be touched as they’re not buying enough as it is. Protector is open for a hit and I can see them slowing down the procurement of F35 but, the freedom of movement that has been afforded to the Russian sub fleet since Nimrod was binned has been a huge embarrassment.

Wedgetail? I wouldn’t like to guess but, the E-3D fleet needs a huge uplift in cash to continue and I suspect that the procurement of a new aircraft might not be much different in cost.

The end of the line approacheth for 737NG. Doesn't look good for JSTARS Recap, which was 737NG-based and might have supported a boutique line. A MAX-based AEW would involve some re-engineering.

I think the Boeing proposal for RAF Wedgetail is 737-800 with an aim of maximising commonality with the P8. I’m afraid I don’t know much more than that regarding airframe choice.

It won’t happen because it makes sense!

Rumour I heard is we might be borrowing an Aussie one!!

I believe that the P-8 is a 737-800 and the Wedgetail is a 737-700, so from an air vehicle perspective very similar. If the MoD are smart, there should be some efficiencies and savings to be had! :ok:

The E-3's are on their knees, with recent groundings reported widely in the news.

SDSR 15 directed the E-3's to be extended to 2035, but the cost of getting them to the USAF standard will be expensive, plus the cost of improving the reliability of the current fleet. Also it is likely that some work on the radar will be required to future-proof.

The RAAF have worked hard to get the E-7 to its current capability and are undergoing a refresh of the Mission System to improve it further.

The Wedgetail has proved extremely successful on Operations and availability rates of an airliner; something most military aircraft can only dream about!

From a green aircraft perspective the P-8A is a 737-800 and the E-7 is a 737-700, but there could be significant savings on in-service costs. Indeed, many airlines run different versions of the 737, but treat them as a common platform.

MOD could make big savings by moving to a common 737 ISR platform. For example, a single IPT in DE&S? Common RTS and Safety Case? Training?
Across all the DLODs there could be opportunities to do things in a single approach rather than each platform doing it differently.

RAAF E-7s are indeed 737-700 however, any RAF purchase would involve 737-800 airframes.

In answer to a question above, the airframe commonality between P8 and any E7s produced for the RAF would be 85%.

[QUOTE=Pure Pursuit;9975492]RAAF E-7s are indeed 737-700 however, any RAF purchase would involve 737-800 airframes.

I am not sure if you understand the differences between the 737-800 and 737-700? The Boeing offerings for both AEW&C and JSTARS are based upon the 737-700. The P-8 is a 737-800 (which is significantly longer) as it has the weapons bay on the aircraft. The P-8 and E-7 have 900 and 800 wings respectively. I am not sure why either Boeing or the MoD would want to re-design the E-7 to sit on a different/larger airframe? If the MoD want to procure off-the-shelf, as a low risk option, then I would suggest they are going to buy more of the same rather than fund any additional work.

I'm prepared to be corrected, but I believe the -800 and the -900 have a common wing.

[quote=OneofthePlebs;9975545]Anyone involved in military procurement should have a "better is the enemy of good enough" tattoo on their retinae.

Or more detail here are my photos of Edingburgh's finest with century nose markings from RIAT in July

cheers

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4536/...6e89c800_k.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4571/...72b03606_k.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4553/...88761fcb_k.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4573/...f6e7ba77_k.jpg

Turkish Wedgetail
 

I am now going back even further - to my visit to ILA 2014 and second time I have seen TUAF Wegetail (first was Farnborough 2010) so here are my photos

cheers

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4545/...27afa530_k.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4569/...53c4d4b0_k.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4546/...2b725a89_k.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4564/...c1c8b1ac_k.jpg

For the £2 billion cost of E3 upgrade we could buy a respectable fleet. Big savings in training, spares and maintenance. Perfect..So, no definitely won’t happen!