Don’t mess with MESA – a new Northrop AEW&C radar for UK RAF

By Boyko Nikolov

LONDON ($1=0.88 GBP) — The Royal Air Force, in particular, the combat reconnaissance units, now has an advanced radar from the American company Northrup Grumman. MESA or Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array is now installed on E-7 Wedgetail Mk1 Airborne Early Warning & Control [AEW&C] aircraft of the Royal Air Force. The information was officially announced through a press release from Northrup Grumman.

Don't mess with MESA - a new Northrop AEW&C radar for UK RAF
Photo credit: Northrop Gruman

The new radar will significantly increase Britain’s air combat capabilities. The radar works in all weather conditions. MESA provides 360-degree situational awareness over long distances. What’s new is that Royal Air Force fighters as well as UK Army ground teams will receive Airborne Moving Target Indication [MTI], thanks to MESA.

The E-7 Wedgetail reconnaissance aircraft will now be able to provide a complete picture of air and sea targets while continuing to conduct continuous surveillance of the operational war zone. This is called critical awareness and is of critical importance to the operational capabilities of the British military as well as NATO allies.

Rapid detection of long-range threats opens up an additional time window that will allow the command additional time to make decisions.

The UK is not the first country in the world to integrate MESA, but it is one of the first after Australia, Turkey, and South Korea did so.

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