The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force (RAF) and the United States Air Force (USAF) have agreed to certify the KC-46A Pegasus tanker to refuel the RAAF’s E-7A Wedgetail aircraft. The agreement holds strategic implications, reflecting the shared vision of operational readiness and mutual support among the Partners.
At the center of this collaboration is the E-7A Wedgetail, an advanced airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system. The aircraft is built on the Boeing 737-700 airframe and boasts the multi-role electronically scanned array (MESA) radar. This radar system provides 360-degree real-time coverage, tracking multiple targets across long distances. Its capabilities make it an asset in coordinating battlefield management and ensuring seamless multidomain operations. Communication systems designed to facilitate secure data sharing with other allied platforms, enabling synchronized efforts during combined missions, complement the capabilities.
The certification of the KC-46A Pegasus to refuel the E-7A Wedgetail expands the Wedgetail’s operational reach and endurance. The KC-46A Pegasus is an adaptable aerial refueling tanker capable of extending the range of various aircraft. The certification ensures that the Wedgetail has the endurance to operate in dynamic and extended mission scenarios, broadening its deployment scope and enhancing its utility in multinational efforts.
“The RAAF is the original operator of the E-7A aircraft,” Flight Cmdr. Owen Hamilton, squadron leader for the Australian research and development unit, said in a news release. “We have already tested and overcome many early challenges typical of a new platform. This unique knowledge allows us to guide our allies in the U.K. and U.S. to field their own E-7A Wedgetail capability faster.”
The success of the agreement highlights the strength of the trilateral partnership and the commitment by Australia, the U.K. and U.S. to foster mutual defense capabilities.