Military technology is always evolving, and early warning aircraft play a crucial role in modern defense.
These high-tech planes help spot threats long before they become a danger. With rising tensions in Europe, having strong surveillance capabilities is more important than ever.
The UK is now preparing to bring the E-7 Wedgetail into service, but there are concerns about whether it will have enough of them to meet growing security needs, writes WP.
The E-7 Wedgetail is an advanced early warning and control aircraft. It is designed to track enemy movements and provide critical intelligence.
The UK Air Force will use it to replace the older E-3 Sentry planes, which have already been retired.
In 2019, Britain planned to buy five E-7 Wedgetails, but in 2021, that number was reduced to three to cut costs. These aircraft are expensive, and military budgets are always under pressure.
However, cutting down on these planes could have long-term consequences. AWACS aircraft, like the E-7 Wedgetail, are in high demand within NATO.
The alliance has only a limited number, with most of them belonging to the United States.
Given the current geopolitical situation, every single aircraft matters. The first E-7 Wedgetail is expected to be delivered to the UK Air Force in December 2025.
The remaining two will follow, and all three are planned to stay in service until 2042.
Some experts believe three aircraft may not be enough. With fewer planes, the UK could struggle to conduct independent air surveillance without relying on NATO.
There are also concerns about technology. Unlike some other military aircraft, the British E-7 Wedgetail will not have access to Skynet satellites.
Instead, it will use the Iridium network, which may not be as fast for data transmission. Analysts are still unsure how much this will affect operations.
The E-7 Wedgetail is already used by the US, Australia, South Korea, and Turkey. It is smaller and lighter than the E-3 Sentry and features a powerful MESA radar.
This allows it to monitor both air and surface activity over a 600-kilometer range. It does not rely on a rotating radar dome, which makes it more efficient.
Despite the concerns, the introduction of the E-7 Wedgetail is an important step for UK defense.
It will provide advanced surveillance and intelligence capabilities, even if there are only three in service. Whether this will be enough remains to be seen.
