On 20th September 2024, the first Boeing E-7 Wedgetail intended for the Royal Air Force (RAF) performed its maiden flight from Birmingham Airport, the United Kingdom.
Still unpainted, the aeroplane is one of three Boeing 737 NG jets currently undergoing modifications to turn them into the E-7 Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft. The works are being performed by a team of over one hundred employees at Boeing´s UK branch, STS Aviation Service in Birmingham.
´This safe and systematic Functional Check Flight is an important step for Boeing and the RAF as part of our rigorous and extensive testing and evaluation,´ said Stu Voboril, Boeing vice president and E-7 program manager. ´Our team is committed to ensuring the E-7 delivers the safety, quality, and capabilities we’ve promised to our customer as we prepare for delivery of the UK’s first E-7 Wedgetail to the RAF.´
Group Captain Richard Osselton, RAF Programme Director for Wedgetail, added: ´Achieving the first flight of Wedgetail is a significant milestone, representing an outstanding effort from the RAF programme team, DE&S, Boeing and STS Aviation. We will now build on this success and look forward to continuing the Test & Evaluation phase as part of our preparations for the aircraft to enter into service.´
Back in 2018, the British authorities announced the country is looking for a replacement for its E-3D AWACS fleet. Negotiations with Boeing, as preferred manufacturer, took place and, in March of 2019, the Ministry of Defence announced the contract for five Wedgetail AEW1 aircraft was signed. Two years later, the purchase was reduced to three E-7 aeroplanes. However, the option for two additional Wedgetails for the RAF is still under consideration.
The future RAF E-7 fleet will operate from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. At the moment, Boeing’s local suppliers and contractors are nearing completion of the infrastructure facilities there, to support the Wedgetail soon-expected introduction into service.
Currently, the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail is being operated by the Royal Australian Air Force (six E-7A aircraft), the Republic of Korea Air Force (four aeroplanes, designated E-7 ´Peace Eye´) and the Turkish Air Force (four aircraft, named E-7T Peace Eagle). In addition, Boeing is also building two rapid prototype E-7 aircraft for the United States Air Force. The E-7 was also selected by NATO as the successor of its E-3A AWACS fleet.
Later this autumn, following a series of flight tests and further evaluation, the first British E-7 AEW&C aircraft is expected to receive its RAF livery.
All photos and quotations © Boeing. Information from the Boeing Company press releases were used.
