Battle Management:USAF,NATO Select Boeing E-7A Wedgetail

The US Air Force and NATO have selected as a nextgen Command and Control aircraft the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail.NATO has ordered six of the aircraft,with Initial Operational Capability (IOC) expected by 2031.A consortium of NATO Allies approved of the massive project this month.Said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg:By pooling resources,Allies can buy and operate major assets collectively that would be too expensive for individual countries to purchase.This investment in state-of-the-art technology shows the strength of transatlantic defence cooperation as we continue to adapt to a more unstable world.*The E-7A is an advanced Early Warning and Control aircraft that provides both situational awareness and control functions.Its powerful radar can detect hostile aircraft,missiles and ships at great distances and can direct NATO fighter jets to their targets.Australia,The Republic of Korea,Turkiye,the US and the UK either are flying the Wedgetail now or are planning to operate it.The Wedgetail is based on a militarised Boeing 737 airliner.Each country has a different name for the Wedgetail,so this blog is using the Australian designation for convenience.*The Wedgetail was originally developed for the Royal Australian Air Force.*The NATO E-7A is to have its main base at Geilenkirchen Air Base,Germany.It can also operate from several forward locations across Europe.The E-7A uses the Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA).This radar is located in a dorsal fin on top of the fuselage,or "top hat".It can simultaneously search air and sea,while also conducting fighter control.The array has a maximum range of 600 km/372.8 mi in look-up mode.It also doubles as an Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) array,with a maximum range of 850 km/528.1 mi at 9,000 m/30,000 ft altitude.Radar signal processing and central computer are installed directly beneath the antenna array.Defensive countermeasures are mounted on the nose,wingtips and tail.The cabin has eight operator consoles with space for four more.*On 21 April 2022,the US Air Force announced the E-7A would replace the E-3 Sentry AWACS,saying it was the only platform capable of meeting the Department of Defense requirements for tactical battle management,Command and Control,and moving target indicator capabilties within the time frame needed.Two new US-specific variants of the E-7A are planned,with a final production decision for a total fleet of 26 aircraft planned for 2025.The first USAF E-7A is to enter service in 2027.The E-7A has a cruise speed of 853 kmh/530 mph;a range of 6500 km/4,000 mi/3500 nmi;and a service ceiling of 12,500 m/41,000 ft.* Boeing (BA),Northrop Grumman (NOC)