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TD& #39;s is correct in the last line, however one item about the whole E-7 sole-source contention bugs me to the core: The assertion that the E-7 is the only AEW aircraft in production. It bugs me because even the E-7 is no longer in production.
Mini-thread: https://twitter.com/thinkdefence/status/1052827725738725376">https://twitter.com/thinkdefe...
Mini-thread: https://twitter.com/thinkdefence/status/1052827725738725376">https://twitter.com/thinkdefe...
I want to make one thing clear first: An E-7 purchase would be a huge uplift to the RAF and I am not advocating one platform over another. I particularly like the proven UAV integration. I want to address a fallacy and highlight another bad behaviour driving a decision. 2/
The E-7 is built on Boeing& #39;s 737-700IGW. This was announced back in 1997. I remember as I was at the CFM announcement where a young-looking Tom Lindberg was co-announcing the excellent BBJ aircraft version as well. 3/
When a new CivJet is converted for military use, its life begins as any other in the Civ factory where it is completed as a "Green". 4/
Now the IGW is not the latest version of the 737. It& #39;s not even close. There& #39;s the 700ER, 800, 900, MAX... IGW& #39;s haven& #39;t been built for Civ use since the mid-2000& #39;s. The last IGW built was in ~2011 for the Turkish. E-7& #39;s. 5/
When Boeing send an IGW through the line, it& #39;s an exception. The last couple had to cannibalise near-unused parts from existing aircraft. The 737-700IGW aircraft are not in production. The production line is not "hot". 6/
After the "Green" is built, it is shipped off the integrator to fit the systems and equipment that all the base aircraft to "achieve it& #39;s final form". 7/
The last E-7 that Boeing integrated onto a Green 737 was in ~2012, again for the Turkish Air Force. There may have been some post-delivery support but that& #39;s still ~5 years ago. 8/
The integrated E-7 aircraft is not in production. The production line is not "hot". 9/
Further, in his response to the Defence Committee yesterday, Air Vice-Marshal Richard Knighton confirmed that integrators for a UK E-7 were being sought, dangling the carrot that UK industry would get involved... 10/
UK Integrators will have never integrated an E-7 Wedgetail in their history. 11/
In summary, the E-7 base aircraft was released 20 years ago, was last built 5 years ago, was last integrated with systems 5 years ago, nobody has integrated the systems for 5 years, and no UK company has ever done it. 12/
Compare and contrast with Saab& #39;s GlobalEye offer. I raise this only as the Defence Committee explicitly did so yesterday. 13/
The base aircraft is a Bombardier Global 6000. This part-UK (Belfast, Derby) built aircraft is in production, in its current form, right now. The manufacturer are current with their aircraft. 14/
The integrated systems are in production in Sweden, the US and the UK, in their current forms, right now. The integrators are current with their systems. 15/
The integrated system is in service with 5 different operators, with the whole solution entering service with a 6th later this year. /16
The GlobalEye is in production. The production line is "hot". /17
The worst behaviour here on display here is that 6 month competition was started, and cancelled, in February. Had it completed, the MOD would have solid information now to make a good decision as we speak...
This is the biggest issue with this whole contentious situation.
/18
This is the biggest issue with this whole contentious situation.
/18
