E-7A Wedgetail - Australia

The Royal Australian Air Force has procured six examples of the Boeing E-7A airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, which it calls the Wedgetail by virtue of the fixed antenna for the multi-role electronically scanned array radar mounted on top of the fuselage. Based on the Boeing 737-700 commercial airliner, the E-7A has 10 mission crew consoles inside, from which airborne and maritime targets may be tracked simultaneously. In the RAAF's words, it "can control the tactical battlespace, providing direction for fighter aircraft, surface combatants and land-based elements, as well as supporting aircraft such as tankers and intelligence platforms". The E-7A fleet is in service with No 2 Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, the first example having been delivered during 2009. The type achieved full operational capability in May 2015, and has been very active on multi-national deployed operations, not least the efforts to counter the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.