RAF opens new facility for E-7 Wedgetail fleet at Lossiemouth

By Defence Industry Europe

The Royal Air Force (RAF) has officially opened a new facility at RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland, designed to maintain its advanced E-7 Wedgetail fleet. The opening ceremony, held on 19th September, was attended by senior representatives from the RAF, Boeing Defence UK, and contractor McLaughlin & Harvey, who led the construction of the project.

 

The new structure is located next to the Atlantic Building, which currently supports the UK’s fleet of nine Poseidon MRA Mk1 aircraft. It will serve as a key maintenance hub for the E-7 Wedgetail, an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform, recognised as one of the most advanced and reliable in the world. The E-7 will provide critical intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities to the RAF.

The facility was constructed by McLaughlin & Harvey, employing over 175 people at the height of the project. The build, subcontracted by Boeing under a contract with Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), also provided opportunities for five Scottish businesses, including Moray-based Simmers Contracts, which supplied 556 tonnes of steel and 7,000 square metres of cladding.

At the opening ceremony, Air Commodore Alex Hicks, Head of Capability Delivery for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), remarked: “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.”

 

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Boeing Defence UK’s Fixed Wing Director, Ashley Parkes, noted the success of the partnership with local suppliers, stating: “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.”

The facility will support the arrival of the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft, which are expected to begin test flights this year, with full service entry planned for 2025. The addition of the E-7 Wedgetail further strengthens RAF Lossiemouth’s strategic role as a hub for advanced military aviation in the UK. The aircraft will be operated by 8 Squadron, marking the squadron’s return to Lossiemouth after a 30-year absence.

 

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