Written by ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
Australia is to deploy one of its Boeing E-7A Wedgetail early warning aircraft to Germany for six months to help with relief operations for Ukraine.
This deployment includes up to 100 crew and support personnel and starts in October. The aircraft is flown by 2 Squadron out of RAAF Williamtown, near Newcastle, NSW.
The announcement was made by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a recent visit to Germany.
The aircraft will provide early warning in the event of any threats outside Ukraine, a Commonwealth statement said.
It also clarified that no Australian Defence personnel or “assets” will enter Ukraine and they will not take part in the conflict. The E-7A will operate outside Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian airspace.
PM Albanese again repeated Australia’s call for Russia to “withdraw its military forces from Ukrainian territory and immediately end this illegal invasion”.
“We strongly support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and are providing ongoing humanitarian and military assistance,” he said.
Deputy PM and Defence Minister Richard Marles said: “The deployment of the E-7A Wedgetail as an additional early warning capability will help ensure that vital support flowing to Ukraine by the international community is protected.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: “Australia’s E-7A Wedgetail deployment is a further demonstration of our support for Ukraine.
“Australia stands with Ukraine to empower its people to end Russia’s illegal, immoral war.”
The Wedgetail possesses the capability of co-ordinating a joint air, sea and land battle.
Based on the Boeing 737-700, the Wedgetail was modified to ensure simultaneous tracking of airborne and maritime targets is made possible through the addition of an advanced Northrop Grumman Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar and 10 mission crew consoles.
The Wedgetail combines long-range surveillance radar, secondary radar and tactical/strategic voice and data communications systems to provide an airborne early warning and control platform.
During a standard mission, the Wedgetail can cover more than four million square kilometres (the size of Western Australia or Northern Territory) and is capable of unlimited long-range deployment with in-flight refuelling.
Tasman Aircraft 