Senator Hill was commenting after the first of Australia’s fleet of four AEW&C aircraft was powered up at Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems in Seattle, United States.

"The aircraft’s power distribution system has been successfully installed and tested several months ahead of schedule," Senator Hill said.

"Australia’s new AEW&C aircraft remain under budget and on track to entering into service in 2007, providing us with a key air and maritime surveillance capability."

The Electrical Power Generation System distributes and controls power on board the Wedgetail platform to all aircraft and mission systems including: radar, navigation, communications, mission computers, displays and the flight deck. During initial ground testing the power is supplied externally, but when the aircraft is operational, power will be provided by specialised generators attached to the two engines.