Photo By Staff Sgt. Tristan Biese | U.S. Air Force Maj. Christopher “Git’r” Dunn is an E-7A Wedgetail air battle...... read more read more
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ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE BASE TINDAL, Northern Territory, Australia –
In fiscal year 2023, the U.S. Air Force plans to purchase E-7A Wedgetails to eventually replace a portion of the current E-3 (AWACS) Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System fleet.
The E-7A was designed for the Royal Australian Air Force and is currently operated by the No. 2 Squadron located at RAAF Base Williamtown, Australia. A few members of the United States Air Force are currently in the No. 2 squadron as part of an officer exchange program, learning the ins and outs of the aircraft.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Christopher “Git’r” Dunn, No. 2 squadron E-7A air battle manager, describes the purpose of the Military Personnel Exchange Program and its importance for increasing international cooperation capacities.
“The goal of the program is to build and grow partnerships and increase interoperability between services,” said Dunn. “This is so that when we try to exchange services in the future or work together, there are already established relationships with personnel who are already there and have intimate knowledge of operations and communications.”
Dunn already sees the benefits the E-7A offers the Air Force’s current agile combat employment capabilities.
“With the purchase of the E-7A, we are already taking advantage of a smaller footprint with an aircraft that has more widespread parts availability,” said Dunn. "It also requires a smaller footprint of maintenance operators and we have the ability to move this jet around pretty much by itself.”
Although the officer exchange program is typically intended as a reciprocal exchange where both nations trade officers, this is currently a one-way exchange. The U.S. is focused on learning from their Australian counterparts and improving joint capabilities.
“One thing I have learned from the RAAF is efficiency of work and small team dynamics,” said Dunn. “I think we sometimes take for granted our massive logistics capabilities in the USAF.”
As Dunn continues through the program, he aims to grow his knowledge and expertise to bring back stateside.
“After this exchange,” said Dunn, “I’ll head back to either go into a school house or a unit to begin the development of tactics, techniques, procedures and courseware for our future acquisition of the E-7.”
| Date Taken: | 09.07.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 09.08.2022 20:40 |
| Story ID: | 428784 |
| Location: | ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE BASE TINDAL, NORTHERN TERRITORY, AU |
| Web Views: | 421 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Military Pilot Exchange Program Supports USAF E-7A Acquisition, by SrA Adrian Salazar, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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