Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates

[John Fedup]

This isn’t strictly true - while the US did cut its order the war in Iran has demonstrated the issues with the USAF E-3 fleet and highlighted that a replacement is required. Funding has been secured for seven airframes, the two earlier test aeroplanes and ab additional five.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see this order grow further in future financial years; it’s likely that eventually the E-7 will fully replace the E-3.

A fraction of the size of the E-3. The US is still committed to a space based replacement for the E-3.

 

[swerve]

This isn’t strictly true - while the US did cut its order the war in Iran has demonstrated the issues with the USAF E-3 fleet and highlighted that a replacement is required. Funding has since been secured for seven E-7 airframes, the two earlier test aeroplanes and an additional five.

As such, it wouldn’t be a great surprise to see this order grow further in future financial years; I’d argue it’s entirely reasonable that eventually the E-7 will fully replace the E-3.

There’s only so much you can do with a global-eye sized platform. Physics - radar size, power generation, and space available onboard all play a part in constraining what a global eye can do.

Yes, but the US E-7 programme survived firstly by the USAF diverting funding, then a few more being squeezed out of congress. It still looks insecure. The USA's still out of the NATO AEW programme. Trust has been lost.

Yes, Globaleye's smaller, but should still be a great improvement on the E-3, & it opens the way to a bigger European successor. NATO Europe hasn't committed to all the AEW aircraft it'd like, which may leave an opportunity. The A321 XLR could be a suitable platform.