11 July 2023

Ukraine conflict: Australia to deploy Wedgetail aircraft to oversee Ukraine relief efforts

by Gareth Jennings

Australia is to deploy a Boeing E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft to Germany for six months to protect “the essential flow of military and humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine”, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on 10 July. (Anadolu Agency)

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is to deploy a Boeing E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft to Europe to help oversee military and humanitarian relief efforts into Ukraine.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the announcement during a press conference in Berlin with Chancellor Olaf Scholz on 10 July saying the Wedgetail and 100 RAAF personnel will be deployed to Germany for six months to protect “the essential flow of military and humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine”.

In his announcement, Albanese stressed that the aircraft will operate only over European airspace.

The RAAF fields four Wedgetail aircraft, which were delivered between 2010 and 2012. Based on the 737 airliner, the Wedgetail is designed to provide the RAAF with an airborne battle-management capability to track airborne and maritime targets simultaneously.

The aircraft is built around a Northrop Grumman multirole electronically scanned array (MESA) radar that provides 360° coverage at ranges of more than 322 km for aerial targets and 241 km for patrol boat-sized surface contacts (these ranges can be significantly increased if the radar's power is focused in a particular direction, rather than applied in a general sweep). The MESA radar affords the E-7 an area coverage of 4 million km ² , with the aircraft having an endurance of 10 hours.

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is to deploy a Boeing E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning an...

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