The first of the E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for the Royal Air Force (RAF) has made its test and evaluation flight in the UK. Last week, a Boeing flight test crew conducted the initial flight from Birmingham Airport with the first of three 737 NG airliners that are undergoing modification for their military role at STS Aviation Services in the UK.
During the inaugural UK flight on September 20, the Boeing flight test crew conducted functional checks as part of the Wedgetail program’s test and evaluation phase. The E-7 aircraft will be equipped to detect and identify enemy targets at long range and can track multiple airborne and maritime threats simultaneously.
A multi-role electronically scanned array sensor on the aircraft provides 360-degree coverage. According to Boeing, the onboard systems have been developed to provide RAF personnel with multi-domain awareness and information on which to base command-and-control decisions.
The UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment & Support unit is partnered with Boeing and STS to deliver the aircraft for the RAF’s Wedgetail program. STS is based at Birmingham Airport.
Notably, the RAF is involved in a trilateral agreement with the U.S. Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force to support interoperability of their respective Wedgetail aircraft by jointly developing their capabilities and cooperating in evaluation, testing, sustainment, training, and safety. The Republic of Korea Air Force and the Turkish Air Force also operate E-7s, and in 2023 NATO selected it for its joint AEW&C platform.
Before year-end, following further tests and evaluation, the green E-7 aircraft will be moved to a paint facility to receive RAF liveries. These aircraft will operate from the RAF Lossiemouth base in Scotland, where Boeing’s local suppliers and contractors are now installing the infrastructure needed to support them.