A key facility procured by DE&S to maintain the E-7 Wedgetail fleet has been officially opened by the RAF at a ceremony in Scotland.

The new structure, located at RAF Lossiemouth, sits alongside the Atlantic Building, from which the UK’s fleet of nine Poseidon MRA Mk1 aircraft already operate.

As the world’s most advanced, capable and reliable Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) platform, the E-7 Wedgetail fleet will provide intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance for the RAF.

The new facility was built by Boeing supplier McLaughlin & Harvey, with more than 175 people employed on site at the project’s peak.

It was officially opened in a ceremony at RAF Lossiemouth on 19th September by RAF programme lead Air Commodore Alex Hicks in the presence of Boeing Defence UK fixed wing director Ashley Parkes, McLaughlin & Harvey’s managing director Paul Griffen, and Stephen Horrocks (pictured with Air Cdre Hicks), head of multi-mission aircraft and Lossiemouth programme lead Laura McNally both of DE&S.

Air Cdre Alex Hicks, Head of Capability Delivery for ISR said:

“It is a real privilege to open the Combined Line Engineering facility for the joint use of Poseidon and Wedgetail engineering teams. Collocating the teams will bring significant advantage to Defence as they operate, train and learn from each other to drive synergies into the maintenance of the two capabilities.

“Thank you to all of the stakeholders that have worked hard to deliver such an excellent capability to the Front Line, your efforts will provide benefit for years to come.”

The build, subcontracted by Boeing under a contract with DE&S, provided five further Scottish businesses with work and a mix of graduate and trainee opportunities in specialist trades.

This included local Moray steel contractor, Simmers Contracts. The family business, which situated just 25 miles from the site, provided 556 tonnes of steel and 7,000 square metres of cladding to support the project.

Laura McNally, DE&S’ operations delivery lead P8/E-7, said:

“It’s of great pleasure to see the official opening of a building that has taken shape in front of our eyes here at Lossiemouth over the past 18 months. It’s another important milestone for this programme and we now look forward to the arrival of aircraft.”

Ashley Parkes, fixed wing director of Boeing Defence UK, said:

“We have a proud history delivering large-scale infrastructure projects in Scotland in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and our local supply chain. With a blended team of more than 175 people employed during the project’s peak, the RAF’s E-7 facility has been expertly delivered by our main construction partner, McLaughlin & Harvey. This facility is a critical step forward in ensuring the successful service introduction of the UK’s future E-7 fleet.”

Capable of simultaneously tracking multiple airborne and maritime targets, the E-7 aircraft uses the information it gathers to improve situational awareness and direct assets such as fighter jets and warships.

The arrival of Wedgetail further bolsters the reputation of Lossiemouth which enjoys a strategic location and state-of-the-art facilities.

The facilities will be ready for the arrival of the first aircraft Wedgetail aircraft, marking a return to RAF Lossiemouth for 8 Squadron, who will operate the aircraft, after an absence of 30 years.

E-7 Wedgetail will commence test flying this year and come into service in 2025.