Britain’s new £1.9bn ‘eye within the sky’ wonderplane is hit by new delay – leaving us weak to Putin assaults and ‘flying blind’ within the Middle East

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The way forward for the RAF’s new fleet of airborne early-warning plane is unsure after a damning report warned the ‘profitable supply’ of the £1.9billion defence mission ‘seems to be unachievable’. 

Spending watchdog the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) has slapped a ‘pink’ ranking on plans to equip Britain’s navy with three E-7 Wedgetail surveillance jets. 

Dubbed the nation’s new ‘eyes within the skies’, the E-7s are set to switch the older E-3 Sentry fashions, which had been mothballed in 2021.

Their state-of-the-art sensors are able to scanning the skies and detecting  incoming fighter jets or cruise missiles from a variety of greater than 250 miles away.

But the IPA’s pink ranking, issued final month in an up to date report, means ‘there are main points with mission definition, schedule, finances, high quality and/or advantages supply, which at this stage don’t look like manageable or resolvable’.

The verdict was given following an evaluation in March final 12 months, with the Ministry of Defence as we speak insisting that ‘important constructive progress’ has since been made.

But ministers have since expressed concern over the mission, which defence insiders concern might depart the UK uncovered to a cruise missile onslaught by the likes of Russia, and to potential assaults on UK bases close to 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 nonetheless not entered operational service. Crucially, it has now been given a pink ranking by the Government’s personal main mission watchdog. 

Pictured is a picture of the RAF’s new E-7 Wedgetail airborne early-warning plane which has been given a ‘pink’ ranking by a authorities spending watchdog 

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‘This very important functionality is required in service now – not later – and ministers have to get a grip of the highly-troubled programme.’ 

Britain has various fastened radar websites able to detecting threats. However, officers in Westminster are nervy that ought to Putin select to focus on Britain in an unlikely shock assault, that these amenities may very well be worn out ‘in 24 hours’. 

There are additionally issues over the costing of the mission, with the complete enterprise case for it having nonetheless not been outlined, that means no in-service date has been agreed, successfully leaving the Wedgetails in limbo.

The first of the jets was meant to enter service in December 2023. However, it has confronted delays after a mixture of supplies, elements and expertise shortages, brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, impacted the worldwide aviation trade.

The setback has meant the UK has been reliant on Nato allies to supply airborne early-warning help for Britain because the E-3 jets had been mothballed years in the past.

Britain initially ordered 5 of the Wedgetails, constructed by aviation large Boeing and based mostly on the 737 jet design, in 2019.

The superior jets have been used efficiently for years by allies in Australia, Turkey and South Korea.

But in 2021 the UK’s authentic £2.15billion order was scaled down to 3 E-7s, that are kitted out with the hi-tech Multi-Role-Electronically Scanned Array (MESA), that scans for threats. 

However, regardless of Britain chopping the variety of planes by two, the renegotiated deal meant the Government nonetheless needed to pay for all 5 MESA methods.

The first of the jets, full with its RAF paint job, was unveiled in October 2024 

However, no in-service date for when the brand new jets shall be green-lit to be used within the navy has been given

As a outcome it means the 2 leftovers, estimated to price an eye-watering £60million every, shall be be used as spare elements, with ex-Tory defence minister, James Cartlidge saying in 2023 the transfer would create a ‘saving/offset of preliminary procurement’ prices. 

The pair of sensors are attributable to be delivered to the RAF by the summer time of this 12 months, the Government has since stated.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence is going through a looming strategic defence assessment, which might see additional cutbacks in spending or for navy initiatives.

It’s unclear how, or if, this assessment will influence the E-7 mission – with the MoD nonetheless insisting will probably be delivered. 

However, defence specialists have expressed their concern and urged the Government to hurry up the scheme to get the brand new jets in motion. 

Philip Ingram, a former Colonel in British navy intelligence, instructed MailOnline: ‘Given the rising instability on Nato’s jap flank and within the Middle East these plane are important for the defence of the UK and UK pursuits.

‘The pink scoring suggests yet one more procurement mission administration failure by the MoD – how far more do we have to put up with earlier than somebody is held accountable for misuse of taxpayers’ cash and impacting the safety of the UK.’

The first RAF E-7 jet – nonetheless unpainted at this level – had its first maiden flight in September 2024

Crewed by a workforce of 12 individuals, together with two pilots, the Wedgetail has a variety of greater than 3,700 miles, which might be prolonged if its refuelled within the air.

With its subtle array of sensors, it will probably decide up hostile targets on land, sea and within the air and might act as a key asset directing navy forces in the direction of the enemy. 

The jets will serve beneath No. VIII Squadron and shall be based mostly at RAF Lossiemouth, in Scotland, alongside the nine-strong fleet of Poseidon maritime patrol plane.

Despite the delays, there have been notable successes within the mission, with September seeing the maiden flight of the primary UK Wedgetail. 

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence instructed MailOnline: ‘The E-7 Wedgetail shall be an eye-in-the-sky plane to detect a variety of missile threats in the direction of the UK.

‘Since this ranking was taken almost a 12 months in the past, E-7 has made important constructive progress, together with its maiden flight within the UK – marking an vital supply milestone.’

A pink, amber, or inexperienced supply confidence assessments mirror the chance of success at a particular cut-off date if points and dangers are left unaddressed.

They are neither a complete reflection of mission efficiency nor a prediction of possible success or failure, the MoD added. 

Once in service, the E-7 will not be retired till at the very least 2042, the IPA stated in its report.  

Boeing declined to remark.  

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