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RAAF E-7A Wedgetail Completes NATO Deployment
The RAAF E-7A Wedgetail has completed its first operational NATO deployment to Poland, flying more than 45 missions since July to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) deployed an E-7A Wedgetail — Boeing’s airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform — to a Polish airbase as part of NATO’s Operation Kudu. The aircraft provided airborne command-and-control, long-range surveillance and enhanced coordination for NATO air and missile defence while also supporting humanitarian logistics for Ukraine.
What the Wedgetail did in Poland
Operating from Poland, the E-7A relayed real-time situational awareness to allied units and helped co-ordinate airspace management across the alliance’s eastern flank. Polish Air Force officials publicly welcomed the capability boost, saying the Wedgetail improved regional surveillance and interoperability with NATO systems.
The deployment marked a milestone in Australia–NATO cooperation: the RAAF sent personnel and equipment to operate alongside NATO partners under Operation Kudu. The Wedgetail’s multi-role radar and command suite helped planners manage assets and prioritise humanitarian flights supporting Ukraine, while also contributing to air defence posture in the region.
- RAAF E-7A Wedgetail — completed 45+ missions since July, providing AEW&C and command support.
Flight crews and mission staff rotated through the deployment to maintain continuous coverage. While details such as the specific Polish base remain operationally sensitive, the mission underscored how partner contributions can expand NATO’s surveillance reach without permanent basing. The RAAF deployment demonstrates Australia’s capacity to integrate high-end airborne systems into multinational operations.
For NATO, the short-term rotation offered a practical test of interoperability between ANZAC-region capabilities and European defence networks. For the RAAF, it provided valuable operational experience for E-7A crews in a complex multinational environment — a win for allied readiness and deterrence on NATO’s eastern flank.
