The event saw the company’s flight test team conduct functional checks of the system before its launch.

The plane will undergo additional live assessments as part of the program’s primary evaluation phase this autumn.

Boeing will also send the aircraft to another center that will finalize the hull’s livery outfitting.

“This safe and systematic Functional Check Flight is an important step for Boeing and the RAF as part of our rigorous and extensive testing and evaluation,” Boeing VP and E-7 Program Manager Stu Voboril remarked.

“Our team is committed to ensuring the E-7 delivers the safety, quality, and capabilities we’ve promised to our customer as we prepare for delivery of the UK’s first E-7 Wedgetail to the RAF.”

‘Significant Milestone’

Boeing accepted the contract to build five E-7s in 2019 to replace the British government’s decommissioned E-3 Sentry fleet, which operated for the same purpose since the 1990s.

The $1.98-billion planes are set to achieve operational capability by 2025.

“This first flight marks a significant milestone for the programme and for our team who have worked tirelessly with our partners to progress what is a hugely complex endeavour,” UK Defence Equipment & Support Director Richard Murray commented on the latest trial.

“We are moving forward and will be delivering this critical capability to the RAF.”

Local E-7 Development Centers Now Ready

The UK’s Wedgetail initiative involved the construction of hangars in Lossiemouth, Scotland, last year to support the Wedgetail’s in-country engineering works.

The site will house works for the three upcoming E-7s as well as other military aircraft once the program concludes.

London announced the inauguration of the $103-million center in September 2024. It will be managed by over 175 on-site personnel at the project’s peak, according to the government.

“We’re proud of the robust E-7 modification line we’ve stood up in the UK to deliver the RAF’s future Airborne Early Warning & Control fleet,” Boeing UK, Ireland and the Nordics President Maria Laine commented.

“We are committed to delivering this crucial capability to support the UK’s national security and contribute toward regional stability.”

Boeing’s E-7 Wedgetail

The E-7 Wedgetail has a 34-meter (112-foot) fuselage and a 36-meter (118-foot) wingspan.

It is flown by two pilots, with functions run by up to 10 mission personnel. In 2022, the UK’s first E-7 platform received its main sensor suite.

The Wedgetail is powered by turbofans for a range of 6,500 kilometers (4,039 miles), a speed of  853 kilometers (530 miles) per hour, and a service ceiling of 12,500 meters (41,011 feet).

The post Boeing Completes Maiden Flight of Future British Wedgetail Early Warning Aircraft appeared first on The Defense Post.

The delivery comes just five months after the country received its penultimate GlobalEye aircraft at the Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi.

According to Saab business area head for surveillance Carl-Johan Bergholm, completing the delivery in under 10 years underscores the company’s position as a “leading provider” of AEW&C platforms.

Deliveries of the GlobalEye to the UAE began in 2020 after five years of production and flight testing.

‘Multi-Domain Platform’

Saab is pitching its GlobalEye as an “advanced, multi-domain solution” capable of long-range threat detection and identification.

It features active and passive sensors that provide real-time information to units on the ground, at sea, or in the air.

The aircraft can operate for up to 11 hours at 35,000 feet (10,668 meters) while detecting threats as low as 200 feet (61 meters).

Its primary goal is to enhance the situational awareness of military units in high-threat environments.

Currently, the UAE Air Force is the only confirmed operator of the AEW&C aircraft.

Sweden has placed an order for three aircraft, with deliveries expected between 2024 and 2029.

The post Saab Concludes GlobalEye Early Warning Aircraft Deliveries to UAE appeared first on The Defense Post.

The $16-million deal orders the company’s proprietary CORE 4.0 devices, which will upgrade the E-2D’s external networking systems into software-based connectivity.

The equipment will employ a tactical edge network targeting a contested long-range environment or TENTaCLE architecture to bolster the aircraft’s network resiliency, according to the navy.

“As an advanced, small-Size, Weight, and Power – Cooling router, CORE 4.0 improves reliability and maintainability for the platform by replacing bulky and obsolete routers while simultaneously hosting applications that enhance E-2D mission capabilities,” US Navy E-2D Systems Engineering Assistant Program Manager Shawn Thompson explained.

Integration of a new virtualized network into the platform aligns with the navy’s fifth iteration of the continuous Delta System Software Configuration effort to sustain the platform’s operability for modern warfare.

“CORE 4.0 will help the E-2D quickly adapt to evolving network architectures as well as provide a means for rapid deployment of new tactical applications,” Thompson added.

“CORE 4.0 enables an additional layer of cyber-security for the platform by hosting new firewall applications as part of the Beyond Line-of-Sight upgrade program for the E-2D.”

The E-2D Aircraft

Developed by Northrop Grumman, the US Navy’s E-2D has a length of 57.8 feet (17.6 meters) and a wingspan of 80.7 feet (24.5 meters).

It is operated by two pilots and up to four mission systems personnel, and is powered by twin 5,100-horsepower Rolls-Royce turboprop engines.

The platform can reach altitudes up to 37,000 feet (11,278 meters) and speeds over 300 knots (555.6 kilometers/345 miles per hour).

The post US Navy Procures New Routers for Advanced Hawkeye Early Warning Aircraft appeared first on The Defense Post.

The Russian diplomat described as “goading” the continuing refusal of the US to permit Kyiv the use of American-made weapons for strikes deep into enemy territory.

He claimed that the US government is laying the ground for a decision to simply remove all the existing restrictions without much thought.

“The current administration behaves like a person who extends one hand and holds a dagger behind their back with another one,” Antonov said, referring to the government of President Joe Biden.

He also said a serious dialogue between the two military superpowers will only happen if Washington ends its “hostile policy” towards Russia, including its support for Ukraine and the sanctions it imposed against Moscow.

‘Critical for Ukraine’

Ukraine has long been calling on its allies to give carte blanche on the use of their donated weapons inside Russia.

Though most have heeded the plea, Washington remains reluctant to allow greater use of the weapons it supplied due to concerns that doing so would only escalate the conflict.

The US temporarily eased restrictions in May, but only to defend the under-fire Kharkiv region.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said it is critical for Kyiv to be given greater freedom in the use of Western weapons to destroy military targets deeper inside Russia.

“It is equally important to be able to destroy military targets in Russia’s rear with Western long-range weapons. This is perhaps the only way to protect our people from glide bombs and other destructive airstrikes,” he explained.

Ukraine’s forces are now in the third week of their surprise offensive in Russia’s Kursk region.

The post Russia Believes US Will Soon Scrap Limits on Donated Weapons to Ukraine appeared first on The Defense Post.

US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told reporters at an air show in England that the service finally “got a reasonable price point” for the jets after bringing in a brokering expert.

“We have reached [an] agreement with them,” he said. “What we did was we brought back a former colleague of mine … to negotiate with Boeing and to drive to closure on the program: Mr. Shay Assad.”

Kendall said the two entities have yet to formally discuss the terms of the contract but expect everything to be finalized next month.

The E-7 is a combat-proven, twin-engine aircraft set to replace the US Air Force’s aging E-3 Sentry AEW&C fleet.

Price Negotiation

The announcement means that the US Air Force and Boeing have finally resolved months of tedious negotiations that stem from the service’s special requirements for the E-7.

The air force reportedly wanted US-specific features, such as open mission systems architecture and an enhanced global positioning system.

It also requested a modified design for the Wedgetail to meet US satellite communications requirements.

“They (negotiations) have been hard,” Kendall told Defense News. “There are some reasons for the price to go up, but the degree to which it was going to go up originally was unacceptable.”

The US Air Force plans to procure up to 26 E-7s by 2032.

Legal Battle

Reaching an agreement with the US despite its ongoing legal battles is a major milestone for Boeing.

Earlier this month, the company agreed to plead guilty to charges of conspiracy to defraud the US Federal Aviation Administration in relation to fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 involving its 737 Max.

The E-7 is based on the 737 Next Generation aircraft, the predecessor of the troubled 737 MAX.

Military experts told Reuters that the guilty plea could affect Boeing’s ability to secure more contracts from American agencies, such as the Department of Defense.

But Kendall quickly debunked the claim, saying he does not believe that the legal battles will lead to “significant disruption of our contracting.”

The post US Air Force, Boeing Finally Reach E-7 Wedgetail Deal appeared first on The Defense Post.

The order is part of a $58-million agreement in 2023 to deliver two Saab AEWs to Warsaw.

Poland’s first AEW is an overhauled aircraft that was once part of the UAE Air Force. It will undergo preparations for operational deployment by the Polish Air Force.

Saab will also provide vital ground equipment, logistics support, and service agreements covering the aircraft until 2025.

The Saab 340 AEW

First introduced in 1997, the Saab 340 AEW was designed to incorporate a radar system with much lower drag than traditional circular radar equipment.

It can fly at a maximum speed of 283 knots (524 kilometers/325 miles per hour) and track targets at an altitude of 20,000 feet (6069 meters).

The 340 AEW comes with a PS-890 Erieye Active Phased Array Antenna, giving the aircraft an operational detection range of 217 miles (350 kilometers) with 300 degrees of coverage.

The radar is resistant to radio interference and can sustain an instrument range of 280 miles (450 kilometers), detecting airborne and maritime friends or foes in hostile electronic warfare environments.

The post Saab Delivers Early Warning Aircraft to Poland appeared first on The Defense Post.

As part of the multimillion-dollar deal, the Swedish firm will provide maintenance and logistics support, along with training services, for a period of three years.

According to Saab official Carl-Johan Bergholm, the contract will solidify the company’s role in ensuring the GlobalEye remains mission-ready for years to come.

“We look forward to further strengthening our partnership with the UAE Air Force and Air Defence and providing long-term local support,” he said in a press release.

The UAE is the first operator of the multi-domain surveillance platform, having received its first aircraft in April 2020.

Providing Enhanced Situational Awareness

First launched in 2016, Saab’s GlobalEye is based on the Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft.

It offers long-range detection and identification of objects, thanks to an array of active and passive sensors.

The aircraft also has an advanced radar that can track aerial targets of any size, including small waterborne craft, submarine periscopes, or cruise missiles.

It boasts a maximum endurance of 11 hours, and can operate from short runways.

The latest contract with Saab is expected to bolster the capabilities of the GlobalEye, allowing it to provide enhanced situational awareness for the UAE Air Force.

The post Saab Wins GlobalEye Early Warning Aircraft Support Contract From UAE appeared first on The Defense Post.

The proposed aircraft will employ modular digital capabilities, allowing Seoul to conduct affordable and rapid upgrades to keep pace with evolving threats and newer operational approaches.

The plane will be used for higher-altitude and longer-range surveillance missions.

After the delivery of the prototype aircraft, the program will be Korean industry-led. Structural modifications will take place in Texas before integration and radar testing commences at ELTA’s Israel facility.

Securing Solutions

The program’s AEW&C planes will be based on L3Harris’ platform design incorporating Bombardier’s Global 6500 high-altitude business jet, and will include radar technology and AI algorithms developed by ELTA.

L3Harris Strategic Collection & Targeting Programs managing director Mark Kobussen shared that implementing the Bombardier business jet was a decisive choice to keep the deal low-risk and low-cost.

“Between AEW&C Batch II, Stand-Off Jammer and ISTAR, L3Harris has a common Global 6500 configuration based on current programs that satisfies all of these missions, with a communications suite and datalinks compatible with other U.S. and allied programs,” he added.

A History of Partnership

L3Harris has provided defense technologies and solutions to the South Korean Air Force for more than two decades, developing new capabilities for the Air Force and Navy.

In October, the company was contracted by Korea Aerospace Industries to provide surveillance and targeting systems for its Marine Attack Helicopter fleet.

The post L3Harris, Korean Air, ELTA Team Up for South Korean AEW&C Planes appeared first on The Defense Post.

The agreement will cover spare parts, repairs, pools, maintenance, and technical services for the Hellenic Army’s ERJ-135LR and ERJ-145 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft.

Additionally, the contract includes a dedicated parts Pool Program for Embraer’s military clients, allowing inventory costs to be shared between customers purchasing the service for a more cost-effective way to secure aircraft availability and logistics support.

The contract underlines Embraer’s support for the army’s AEW&C fleet, in operation since 2000.

Preparing the Fleet

Embraer Services & Support president and CO Carlos Naufel shared that the company’s support renewal will help raise the Hellenic Air Force fleet’s readiness and availability.

“Our solution is very competitive and Hellenic Air Force’s decision for this model reinforces a worldwide trend, with customers looking for a complete logistics solution,” he added.

Other countries employing Embraer’s ERJ planes include Brazil, India, Mexico, and Thailand.

A Developing Force

Greece’s recent focus on updating its military capabilities is part of an 11.5-billion euro ($12.6 billion) defense procurement budget.

In June, the country chose French firm Safran Electronics & Defense to supply additional medium-altitude, long-endurance drones for its 16-unit unmanned fleet.

It also established the Hellenic International Flight Training Center in Kalamata to prepare for more advanced aerial capabilities for strategic multinational air missions.

The post Greece Taps Embraer for Extended Fleet Logistics Support appeared first on The Defense Post.

The Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft features the ELTA Systems EL/W-2085 radar, Aviation Week revealed, citing director of strategic collection and targeting programs at L3Harris Mark Kobussen.

The aircraft will provide a greater altitude of over 41,000 feet (12,497 meters) to the Taiwanese Air Force, enough to keep an eye on the Taiwan Strait from the territory’s eastern side, where it is less vulnerable to Chinese countermeasures, according to Kobussen.

L3Harris has also offered the aircraft to South Korea and NATO as potential fleet replacements.

Taiwan’s Early Warning Requirement

Earlier, Taiwan considered upgrading its six Northrop Grumman E-2K Hawkeye aircraft with E-2Ds. However, cost and US export approval concerns stalled the move.

Taipei commissioned two E-2Ks in 2006 and upgraded its four E-2Ts — bought in 1995 — to the E-2K configuration in two batches in 2011 and 2013. 

The E-2D features an APY-9 radar, while the E-2K is equipped with the APS-145.

The L3Harris Offer

L3Harris and ELTA, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries, are developing the missionized aircraft featuring ELTA’s next-generation AEW system and battle management command and control suite as well as L3Harris’ interoperable communications suite.

The EL/W-2085 system includes a phased array airborne early warning radar, an identification friend-or-foe system, and electronic support measures.

It is currently installed on Israeli, Italian, and Singaporean Air Force Gulfstream G550-based early warning aircraft.

The post L3Harris Pitches Taiwan Early Warning Aircraft With Israeli Radar appeared first on The Defense Post.