Wedgetail equipment redesigned and recertified, MPs told
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that certain equipment within the Royal Air Force's E-7 Wedgetail programme required redesign and subsequent recertification during aircraft conversion and mission-system integration. The work involves a complex combination of airborne early-warning radar, communications, self-protection and airworthiness modifications, although officials declined to identify the particular affected items on security and commercial grounds. Britain is acquiring three Boeing 737-based Wedgetail aircraft equipped with Northrop Grumman's Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array radar, replacing its retired E-3D Sentry fleet. The ministerial answer clarifies the nature of additional certification work but provides no revised operational readiness date.