E7 WEDGETAIL

Military Capability

Record date: 31 March 2026

Whole-life cost: £2.1bn
Published schedule: 08/05/2018 – 01/07/2030
NISTA delivery confidence: Not disclosed
Senior responsible owner: Mark Butterworth

What the project is for

The E-7 Wedgetail programme will provide a 5th generation Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW and C) capability, with a Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array sensor, which is interoperable and interchangeable with key allies with an anticipated Out-of-Service date of at least 2042.

Departmental delivery commentary

Compared to financial year 24/25 Q4, the NISTA/SRO Delivery Confidence Assessment (DCA) rating at 25/26 Q4 remained at Red. This is primarily due to the following factors. 1. Several factors have caused delays to the Programme’s In-Service Date and subsequent milestones. 2. The delays are the result of contractor performance and schedule optimism bias, challenges within the global supply chain, retention of an appropriately skilled workforce at the modification facility and an increase in certification complexity and requirements.

Schedule

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the programme's end-date at 25/26-Q4 remained the same at 31/12/2027. This is primarily due to the following factors. 1. Although the reported end date remains unchanged from Q4 24/25, milestones are being revised through a programme rebaselining exercise.

Cost

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the project's departmentally agreed Whole Life Cost at 25/26-Q4 (measured in £m) decreased from £1962M to £1937M. This is primarily due to the following factors. 1. Updated estimate of costs following modelling of the latest price proposal.

Benefits

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the project's departmentally agreed Benefits at 25/26-Q4 (measured in £m) remained at 0. This is primarily due to the following factors. No monetised benefits.