Air International 2021-07
N.Pittaway - The intelligence edge
The E-7A Wedgetail design (foreground) has been selected by a number of other air forces including Turkey, the UK and South Korea
Some examples of the RAAF’s P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft have been adapted for electronic warfare operations (bottom left of the picture)
The US Navy’s Multi-Intelligence, or Integrated Functional Capability 4-configured MQ-4C Triton UAVs, developed by Northrop Grumman, has been selected by Australia
Australia is adding significant unmanned ISR capabilities to its forces, having ordered up to 12 MQ-9B SkyGuardians from US manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
Initial Operational Capability for the planned fleet of four Gulfstream MC-55As is expected to occur in mid-2023
The first eight Australian P-8A aircraft were delivered in the US Navy’s ‘Increment 2’ baseline configuration, but subsequent aircraft arrived in the definitive, network-ready ‘Increment 3’ configuration
Obtaining and disseminating accurate battlefield information is a critical part in establishing domain awareness superiority
When on operations, ISR aircraft such as the P-8A Poseidon and E-7A Wedgetail feature a number of consoles in the fuselage where specialists can assess the data being collected
Another mission as part of Operation Okra begins as an RAAF E-7A Wedgetail takes off from Australia's main logistics base in the Middle East.
The Royal Australian Air Force has developed multi-layered ISR capabilities and operates a number of aircraft, such as the E-7A Wedgetail
A line-up of four of No 2 Squadron's E-7A Wedgetails at RAAF Base Williamtown. As well as the E-7, the UK and Australia will enjoy commonality across their respective F-35 fleets and the British-designed Type 26 warships ordered by Canberra.
Australia’s operations with the E-7A Wedgetail saw the type achieve a 95% mission success rate during Operation Okra