Page 56 - Leverage and Learn

Leverage Allied Investments and Combat Learning Experience in Modernizing the U.S. Military

Group Captain Bellingham: "We flew to the Middle East and almost instantly began operations. Since
September last year we haven't dropped one mission due to systems on the aircraft, and we're at 99 point
something percent success.

"It's able to deliver everything plus more to the coalition forces.There's a lot of potential in in the Wedgetail
system.

"You've got a twin engine jet, it takes a lot less fuel to keep it over the battle space. We've got 13
crewmembers on board rather than 20 plus crewmembers on board (on an AWACS) who need food and
shelter and clothing and sustainment. The footprint comes down.

"And it is very reliable. It's a relatively new jet, so our reliability is high in terms of the green aircraft systems.
That may change as it gets older, but right now you turn it on and it works.
"From my perspective, I think not just the US but other nations are looking at E7 going, "You know what? That's
working." Whereas where we were four or five years ago it was, "Seems like we've got a bit of work to do."

Question: It is clearly a system in progress with the capability to evolve into what the US CNO calls a
key capability to operate in the electromagnetic battlespace, and to do so for the joint force.

Could you talk about the joint evolution?
Group Captain Bellingham: "Army and navy officers are part of the Wedgetail crew. . We are not just
extension of what the air defense ground environment or the control reporting units do from the ground. We
take our platform airborne and we do air battle space management.

"Recently, in the Army led Hamel exercise, we pushed the link piecutre down to the ground force
headquarters. Their situational awareness became significant, compared to what they have had before.

"And since the Williams seminar on Air-Land integration, several senior Army officers have been to
Williamtown to take onboard what we can do and potential evolution of the systems onboard the aircraft.

"We are seeing similar developments on the Navy side. A key example is working with the LHD. My opinion is
that the Wedgetail will be critical to making all the bits of an amphibious task group come together. And not
just that but as the P-8 joins the force, we can broaden the support to Navy as well. And the new air warfare
destroyer will use its systems as well to pass the data around to everyone, and making sure everyone's
connected.

"The E-7 is a critical node in working force integration and making sure we're all seeing the same thing at the
same time, and not running into each other, and getting each other space. We're not on a ten second scan.
We are bringing the information to the war fighter or to whoever needs it right then."

Question: During the visit, we have been in the squadron building, the hangar and in the System
Program Office collocated with the squadron.
What advantages does that bring?

Group Captain Bellingham: "It facilitates a close working relationship between the combat force and the
system developers.

"We can share our combat experiences with the RAAF-industry team in the SPO and to shape a concrete way
ahead in terms of development.
Second Line of Defense

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