Page 57 - Australian Defence Magazine November 2022

NOVEMBER 2022 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
COMMUNICATIONS C4I 57
LEFT: An E-7A Wedgetail takes off from Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska
ABOVE: 2 Sqn deployed a single Wedgetail to RAAF Tindal for Pitch Black 2022
A future Air 5077 Phase 6 project will also oversee a comprehensive mid-life upgrade of the Wedgetail’s capa- bilities from the 2025-2026 timeframe, which will see the aircraft out to its planned life of type.
FIFTH GENERATION INTEGRATION
AND ROLE EXPANSION
The RAAF deployed one aircraft to Tindal for a series of activities culminating in the biennial Pitch Black air com- bat exercise held in August and September. Although its role during Pitch Black was its traditional air surveillance and control mission, some of the activities in the lead-up focussed on exploring new roles and capabilities.
The squadron deployed to Tindal a month before Pitch Black began and the crews spent a lot of time working with F-35A Lightning II fighters from the RAAF’s 75 Sqn as they worked up for their first ever
gates, because there's been some changes over the years. We have what's known as the 1.7 configuration at the mo- ment, which means the communications have been upgrad- ed for security, as well as Link 16,” Squadron Leader Adam Paull, the 2 Sqn Detachment Commander at Tindal during the recent Pitch Black 22 exercise, explained.
“We've also updated some of the combat system from an obsolescence point of view and some of the computer components have been changed to a Linux-based system, whereas the old systems were Unix-based. We're about two thirds of the way there but with some upgrades to come.
“The big one for us in the 1.7 configuration is the MIDS JTRS (Multi-Function Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System) upgrade – the updated Link 16 capability, which makes us compliant with allies and partners and which was dropped at the start of this year.”
participation in Australia’s largest air combat exercise.
ADM also understands the Wedgetail also worked with RAAF F-35As from No.2 Operational Conversion Unit (2 OCU) and US Air Force F-22A Raptors in the skies over the Northern Territory. The 2 OCU F-35As had deployed to Tindal from Williamtown for training outside the Pitch Black construct and were exercising with the US F-22As under the US Government’s Enhanced Air Cooperation (EAC) program.
“SIGNIFICANTLY, THE E-7 HAS RECENTLY BEEN SELECTED BY THE UK AS A REPLACEMENT FOR ITS NOW RETIRED BOEING E-3D SENTRY AEW CAPABILITY”
Perhaps surprisingly, SQNLDR Paull said that working with the 5th generation F-35 has not significantly changed the way Wedgetail crews go about business.
“From the way we do things, not very much has changed,” he explained. “It's more about what information we take in and process and then send out to them as well. While there
DEFENCE
NIGEL PITTAWAY