Boeing Completes 1st Wedgetail AEW&C Mission Crew Training Course for Royal Australian Air Force

WILLIAMTOWN, New South Wales, Nov. 12, 2010 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Number 2 Squadron personnel from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have delivered the first Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) mission crew training course at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales.


During the seven-month course, which began in March, eight instructors and three role players from Boeing Defence Australia provided eight RAAF students with more than 1,200 hours of programmed training on the airborne battle management aircraft's mission systems.


"Boeing Defence Australia is responsible for training the students in non-tactical areas across all aircraft mission systems, including data links, communications systems and the Multirole Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar, to ensure they graduate with the necessary skills," said Todd Barker, Wedgetail AEW&C mission crew lead instructor and course director for Boeing Defence Australia.


Based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 commercial aircraft, the Wedgetail AEW&C platform is able to track airborne and maritime targets simultaneously through the advanced MESA radar and 10 mission crew consoles.


"As a key training service provider and integrator for the Australian Defence Force, Boeing Defence Australia continues to increase its in-country and international training footprint, as shown by the successful completion of Australia’s first AEW&C mission crew training course," said John Duddy, Boeing Defence Australia vice president and managing director. "Congratulations to the RAAF and Boeing Defence Australia's training team for this excellent outcome."


Subcontracted to The Boeing Company under the Wedgetail In-Service Support contract, Boeing Defence Australia is responsible for program management, supply chain management and engineering, maintenance and training services to support the six-aircraft fleet's introduction into RAAF service. To date, three aircraft have been formally accepted in an initial operating configuration by the Commonwealth. The fourth and fifth aircraft are scheduled to be delivered later this year and the remaining aircraft will be delivered in 2011.


Boeing Defence Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company and a business unit of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, is a leading Australian aerospace enterprise. With a world-class team of more than 1,500 employees at 14 locations throughout Australia and two international sites, Boeing Defence Australia supports some of the largest and most complex defense projects in Australia.


A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

6 New Boeing Super Hornets Join Royal Australian Air Force Fleet

Photo credit: Photo courtesy Royal Australian Air Force

Queensland, July 7, 2010  Six new Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets arrived at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberley on July 6, increasing the RAAF's fleet to 11 next generation, multi role air combat aircraft.

The RAAF's first five Super Hornets arrived in Australia on March 26.

Accoriding to Group Capt. Steve Roberton, Officer Commanding 82 Wing "With the arrival of these six new Super Hornets, we will continue to broaden our training as we prepare to achieve Initial Operational Capability later this year. Our aircrews and support teams continue to be very impressed with the Super Hornet's remarkable capabilities, performance and reliability."

Australia announced in March 2007 that it would acquire 24 of the advanced Block II versions of the Super Hornet, all of which are equipped with the Raytheon-built APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. Australia's 24th Super Hornet to be delivered in 2011. The first 11 were delivered ahead of schedule and on budget.

"The Super Hornet's proven technologies including its fully integrated AESA radar, advanced sensors, two-engine design and network centric data sharing environment are providing the RAAF with a broad spectrum of new capabilities," said Carolyn Nichols, Australian Super Hornet program manager for Boeing. "The RAAF Super Hornets enable the two crew members to conduct simultaneous air and ground operations with unprecedented situational awareness."

The Boeing Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day and night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions.