Number 2 Squadron personnel from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have completed the first Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) mission crew training course.
The Wedgetail AEW&C is based on the Boeing next-generation 737-700 commercial aircraft, and can track airborne and maritime targets simultaneously through advanced MESA radar and ten mission crew consoles.
Boeing Defence Australia provided the seven-month course to RAAF personnel at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales.
The course provided eight RAAF students with 1,200 hours of programmed training on the airborne battle management aircraft’s mission systems.
The training included all aircraft mission systems, including data links, communications systems and the multirole electronically scanned array (MESA) radar.
The RRAF will take the delivery of the fourth and fifth aircraft by the end of 2010 and the remaining aircraft in 2011.