The Wedgetail offers advanced radar, communication, and multi-domain battle management to support UK and NATO operations.
The E-7 Wedgetail AEW Mk1 provides crucial Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capabilities. It generates high-resolution radar data and shares it in real-time through advanced communication links.
ROLE
The Wedgetail AEW Mk1 is the Royal Air Force’s next-generation airborne early warning and control aircraft, designed to deliver long-range surveillance, battle management, and command and control for air and joint operations.
Built on the Boeing 737-NG platform and equipped with the Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA), it provides radar coverage to detect and track air and maritime targets over vast distances, while coordinating fighter, tanker, and ISR assets in real time.
Wedgetail enhances interoperability with NATO partners, and plays a critical role in integrated air and missile defence, making it a cornerstone of the UK’s future ISTAR capability.
Technical Specifications
Specifications
Technical Specifications
Sensors
Technical Specifications
Comms
CAPABILITY
The Wedgetail AEW Mk1 utilises its MESA radar to provide Wide Area Surveillance and the ability to track hundreds of airborne and surface contacts simultaneously, enabling commanders to maintain a comprehensive operational picture in complex and contested environments.
Through secure data links and networked systems, Wedgetail integrates seamlessly with 4th and 5th generation combat aircraft such as Typhoon and F-35, as well as naval assets, ensuring coordinated targeting, threat detection, and dynamic mission management.
This interoperability extends to coalition partners, allowing Wedgetail to act as a critical node within multinational operations and joint task forces.
With extended endurance, robust communications, and the ability to operate in challenging conditions, Wedgetail significantly enhances situational awareness, accelerates decision-making, and strengthens the UK’s capacity to deliver precision effects and maintain control of the battlespace across multiple domains.
