The future of the RAF’s new fleet of airborne early-warning aircraft is in doubt after a damning report warned the ‘successful delivery’ of the £1.9billion defence project ‘appears to be unachievable’.
Spending watchdog the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) has slapped a ‘red’ rating on plans to equip Britain’s military with three E-7 Wedgetail surveillance jets.
Dubbed the nation’s new ‘eyes in the skies’, the E-7s are set to replace the older E-3 Sentry models, which were mothballed in 2021.
Their state-of-the-art sensors are capable of scanning the skies and detecting incoming fighter jets or cruise missiles from a range of more than 250 miles away.
But the IPA’s red rating, issued last month in an updated report, means ‘there are major issues with project definition, schedule, budget, quality and/or benefits delivery, which at this stage do not appear to be manageable or resolvable’.
The verdict was given following an assessment in March last year, with the Ministry of Defence today insisting that ‘significant positive progress’ has since been made.
But ministers have since expressed concern over the project, which defence insiders fear could leave the UK exposed to a cruise missile onslaught by the likes of Russia, and to potential attacks on UK bases near the Middle East.
Mark Francois, Tory shadow armed forces minister, feared Britain was now ‘flying blind’, and warned: ‘The E-7 Wedgetail, our new “eye in the sky” has still not entered operational service. Crucially, it has now been given a red rating by the Government’s own major project watchdog.
Pictured is an image of the RAF’s new E-7 Wedgetail airborne early-warning aircraft which has been given a ‘red’ rating by a government spending watchdog
‘This vital capability is needed in service now – not later – and ministers need to get a grip of the highly-troubled programme.’
Britain has a number of fixed radar sites capable of detecting threats. However, officials in Westminster are nervy that should Putin choose to target Britain in an unlikely surprise attack, that these facilities could be wiped out ‘in 24 hours’.
There are also concerns over the costing of the project, with the full business case for it having still not been defined, meaning no in-service date has been agreed, effectively leaving the Wedgetails in limbo.
The first of the jets was meant to enter service in December 2023. However, it has faced delays after a combination of materials, parts and skills shortages, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, impacted the global aviation industry.
The setback has meant the UK has been reliant on Nato allies to provide airborne early-warning support for Britain since the E-3 jets were mothballed years ago.
Britain initially ordered five of the Wedgetails, built by aviation giant Boeing and based on the 737 jet design, in 2019.
The advanced jets have been used successfully for years by allies in Australia, Turkey and South Korea.
But in 2021 the UK’s original £2.15billion order was scaled down to three E-7s, which are kitted out with the hi-tech Multi-Role-Electronically Scanned Array (MESA), that scans for threats.
However, despite Britain cutting the number of planes by two, the renegotiated deal meant the Government still had to pay for all five MESA systems.
The first of the jets, complete with its RAF paint job, was unveiled in October 2024
However, no in-service date for when the new jets will be green-lit for use in the military has been given
As a result it means the two leftovers, estimated to cost an eye-watering £60million each, will be be used as spare parts, with ex-Tory defence minister, James Cartlidge saying in 2023 the move would create a ‘saving/offset of initial procurement’ costs.
The pair of sensors are due to be delivered to the RAF by the summer of this year, the Government has since said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence is facing a looming strategic defence review, which could see further cutbacks in spending or for military projects.
It’s unclear how, or if, this review will impact the E-7 project – with the MoD still insisting it will be delivered.
However, defence experts have expressed their concern and urged the Government to speed up the scheme to get the new jets in action.
Philip Ingram, a former Colonel in British military intelligence, told MailOnline: ‘Given the increasing instability on Nato’s eastern flank and in the Middle East these aircraft are essential for the defence of the UK and UK interests.
‘The red scoring suggests yet another procurement project management failure by the MoD – how much more do we need to put up with before someone is held accountable for misuse of taxpayers’ money and impacting the security of the UK.’
The first RAF E-7 jet – still unpainted at this point – had its first maiden flight in September 2024
Crewed by a team of 12 people, including two pilots, the Wedgetail has a range of more than 3,700 miles, which can be extended if its refuelled in the air.
With its sophisticated array of sensors, it can pick up hostile targets on land, sea and in the air and can act as a key asset directing military forces towards the enemy.
The jets will serve under No. VIII Squadron and will be based at RAF Lossiemouth, in Scotland, alongside the nine-strong fleet of Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
Despite the delays, there have been notable successes in the project, with September seeing the maiden flight of the first UK Wedgetail.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence told MailOnline: ‘The E-7 Wedgetail will be an eye-in-the-sky aircraft to detect a range of missile threats towards the UK.
‘Since this rating was taken nearly a year ago, E-7 has made significant positive progress, including its maiden flight in the UK – marking an important delivery milestone.’
A red, amber, or green delivery confidence assessments reflect the likelihood of success at a specific point in time if issues and risks are left unaddressed.
They are neither a comprehensive reflection of project performance nor a prediction of likely success or failure, the MoD added.
Once in service, the E-7 won’t be retired until at least 2042, the IPA said in its report.
Boeing declined to comment.
