In early 2022, the US Air Force made the decision to replace its obsolete Boeing E-3 Sentry fleet, but the radical choice meant a suitable successor ought to be selected sooner rather than later.
Several options were discussed, but a candidate quickly stood out; it was the proven Boeing E-7 Wedgetail, currently serving in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Lighter and better equipped than the E-3, the Wedgetail is regarded as a much stronger defense element in the 21st-century airspace, and it also incorporates the powerful Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array or MESA radar.
Still, the transition might prove a highly risky move in today’s fast-moving international landscape. But as Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told reporters, the Wedgetail is: “The leading candidate, quite obviously.”
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Introduced in 2001, the Embraer R-99A'/E-99/EMB 145 AEW&C i Airborne early warning and control aircraft, equipped with the Erieye active electronically scanned array radar from Saab Microwave Systems (formerly Ericsson Microwave Systems) of Sweden operates at Brazilian Airforce, wichclaims that it has 95% of the capability of the larger AWACS aircraft which are in service in the air forces of other nations.😒
Hate to break it to you but the RAF ones aren't even built yet alone operated. Australia fly's them and both South Korea and Turkey fly their own variants of the Wedgetail named Peace Eye & Peace Eagle respectively. Also the UK order was cut from 5 to 3 a while ago now.
Very interesting and very disturbing. Maybe the Australians and the British can help us pore Americans. Sadly, Politicians, as they always have been are the major problem here. The U.S. has already lost the Next War…
If Byedone has a hand in it, his kid'll make a killing and it will never fly right. FJB
What happened with the E9 that was supposed to be the next big thing for the airforce
Alot of very good information in a shot time. Thank you!
This video is actually illegally underated and good to hear now actually send them to Ukraine
I think this shouldn't be the only option as airforce is always a leading not a following . come on USA make a brand new brand for avionics.
The Wedgetails will work in partnership with UAVs and the P8 Posiedons
I disagree the E-3 is obsolete, call me old fashioned. There are several pros it has over the Wedgetail. Don't retire all of them, keep a few dozen in a support role.
Why is it the air farce let’s it’s people work in shorts and tee shirts. They are a disgrace
This video repeats the Wikipedia article about the E-7 Wedgetail almost verbatim I just discovered. 🤣
Stealth E7
us will not retire e-3 sentry . they will stand against emp better than the e-7
The Austrailan one has a keg in the back.
much improved capabilities over the E-3!
We lost our E3DS at Waddington a good while ago now but the Replacements going Lossiemouth
Wonder if there's gonna be mixed crews with these .
USAF is going to need far more than 18 E-7 airframes…double that number would be approximately correct. The biggest problem over the years with the E-3 fleet was that is was cut short on production because Congress, as usual, had good buddies that needed that sweet, sweet government money more than the DoD needed E-3s. Consequently, the E-3 fleet was constantly grossly over-tasked and under-equipped for the demand, which wore out the already aged airframes even faster. The E-3 radar system was a marvel in its day, but that day has now passed. USAF needs the E-7 as quickly as Congress will allow it to buy them. Therein lies another problem, of course…
BIDEN at the head of the table. GOD ALMIGHTY… save us from evil!
In Australia we verbally call the RAAF the “R Double A F” or just pronounce it “Raph” for short.