In a historic first, the U.S. Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and Royal Air Force (RAF) collaborated to rapidly improve global combat capability while gathering critical test data for future acquisition of the E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.
A KC-46A assigned to the 418th Flight Test Squadron (FLTS) at Edwards Air Force Base refuelled a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail in the airspace near Edwards Air Force Base, California. Aircrews from the USAF, RAAF, and Royal Air Force worked together to rapidly certify this enhanced combat capability for the RAAF E-7A fleet. The trilateral test also allowed the United Kingdom and United States Air Force to gain early test experience ahead of their anticipated fielding of E-7 aircraft variants.
This milestone certifies KC-46A Pegasus air-to-air refuelling of the RAAF’s E-7A Wedgetail, while streamlining USAF and RAF E-7 Wedgetail certification efforts. The efforts are part of a broader vision of trilateral collaboration that identifies enhanced operational output through mutual support, shared resources, and commonality, ultimately achieving greater operational reliability through efficiencies of scale.
Multinational test teams brought together a deployed RAAF E-7A Wedgetail and a KC-46A Pegasus, marking the tanker's first aerial refuelling receiver certification for a unique foreign aircraft type. The unique partnership forged during this testing will also pay dividends as the USAF and RAF field their own E-7 Wedgetails in the coming years.
An RAF representative participated in the testing, as the RAF will soon operate a variant of the E-7 Wedgetail. This hands-on experience provided critical early exposure as the RAF begins their own flight test programme.
“This test event reflects the joint collaboration and interoperability between our three nations. We will soon begin flight testing our own E-7A aircraft, and this early collaboration will help us field our capability more efficiently.”
Squadron Leader Angus Lilly
RAF test pilot
The trilateral testing with a USAF KC-46A allows for enhanced combat capability, while allowing early experience for the USAF and RAF as future E-7 variant operators.
Test pilots and flight test engineers from the 418th Flight Test Squadron joined aircrew from the Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force during a mission brief at Edwards Air Force Base. Aircrews from the USAF, RAAF, and RAF worked together to rapidly certify the RAAF E-7A with the USAF KC-46A for aerial refuelling.
“The RAAF is the original operator of the E-7A aircraft. We have already tested and overcome many early challenges typical of a new platform. This unique knowledge allows us to guide our allies in the U.K. and U.S. to field their own E-7A Wedgetail capability faster.”
Squadron Leader Owen Hamilton
Aircraft Research and Development Unit
Bringing three nations together for testing presented challenges, including understanding the required processes for secure data sharing between the KC-46 and E-7A, two platforms that had never interfaced. Boeing, the mission partner and KC-46 program office, assisted the 418th FLTS with breaking down these barriers.
“Sharing data and understanding how to dissect and utilize the information is just as important as the actual test certification. There are no benchmarks or precedents for aligning these systems. The USAF and RAAF use different rules and nomenclatures. A key part of developmental testing is to find a path to success. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!”
Maj. Matthew Daughtery
Global reach test pilot, 418th FLTS
The robust testing over the Mojave Desert signals a new era in networked airborne early warning and control capability. Lessons learned are already informing future test planning as the RAF and USAF prepare to transition to E-7 Wedgetail operations.
The U.S. is demonstrating the impact of our trilateral engagement through this testing, with the ultimate goal of full interoperability for global defence, E-7A interoperability will allow joint forces to focus on the fight, not on aircraft ownership. This also lays a path for future cooperation to enhance the E-7A for the future.
The USAF expects to start testing its first E-7A later this decade.
