UK’s first E-7 Wedgetail early warning aircraft receives VIII Squadron livery and NATO markings.

On October 17, 2024, the Royal Air Force (RAF) marked a significant event as its first E-7 AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft, built by Boeing UK, rolled out from Southend Airport. This is the first time the E-7 has been painted in RAF livery. The aircraft, designated WT001, carries the markings of VIII Squadron, which is set to operate the Wedgetail. The squadron’s badge, a sheathed Arabian dagger known as a Jambiya, reflects its long association with Arabia, a symbol approved by King George VI in 1943 to signify their role.
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The VIII squadron’s badge, a sheathed Arabian dagger known as a Jambiya, reflects its long association with Arabia, a symbol approved by King George VI in 1943 to signify their role. (Picture source: British MoD)

In addition to RAF roundels and markings, the aircraft bears the emblem of NATO’s Airborne Early Warning & Control Force (NAEW&CF), linking the UK’s Wedgetail with NATO’s airborne surveillance mission. The E-7 has been selected by NATO as its next command and control aircraft, and the RAF’s Wedgetails will contribute to NATO’s Airborne Early Warning & Control Force. After departing Southend Airport, the Wedgetail returned to STS Aviation Services in Birmingham for additional modifications and is scheduled to undergo further testing and evaluation before entering full service in 2025. This aircraft will serve as the most advanced AEW&C platform for the RAF, providing the UK with expanded airborne surveillance capabilities to improve situational awareness.

Wing Commander McDonnell, Officer Commanding VIII Squadron, noted the significance of the UK’s first painted Wedgetail, highlighting that it represents a step toward achieving operational capability. The RAF’s Wedgetail fleet will operate under No. 8 Squadron and be stationed at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, alongside the nine Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Both the Wedgetail and Poseidon are based on the Boeing 737-700 increased gross weight (IGW) airframe, known for its reliability and reduced maintenance requirements. The 737 series benefits from a global supplier base and support network, which supports the long-term operation of these fleets.

RAF Lossiemouth has undergone infrastructure upgrades to accommodate the Wedgetail, including a maintenance facility built by McLaughlin & Harvey. This facility supports both the Wedgetail and Poseidon fleets, and at its peak employed over 175 people, with involvement from five Scottish subcontractors. The facility was officially opened in September 2024 and is expected to support the AEW&C fleet for at least 20 years.

The first British Wedgetail successfully completed its maiden flight on September 20, 2024. The remaining aircraft are expected to be delivered by 2026. (Picture source: Boeing)

The UK’s decision to acquire the E-7 began in October 2018, when the British government entered discussions with Boeing to replace its aging E-3D Sentry fleet. These discussions also involved potential cooperation with Australia, which already operated the Wedgetail. The decision to proceed without a competitive tender process led to some criticism, including concerns over favoritism toward Boeing. Saab, a competitor, expressed opposition, stating it could offer its Erieye system on an Airbus A330 MRTT platform. Despite this, in March 2019, the UK finalized a $1.98 billion deal (approximately $2.33 billion in 2023) to purchase five Wedgetail AEW1 aircraft.

In December 2020, reports indicated that the UK might reduce its Wedgetail order from five to three aircraft. This reduction was confirmed in the 2021 Integrated Defence Review, raising concerns that only one aircraft might be available for operational tasking at a time. However, in February 2023, Air Chief Marshal Michael Wigston suggested the order might eventually increase to five aircraft depending on future requirements.

Initially, Marshall Aerospace was selected to carry out airframe modifications, but the company withdrew in May 2020. Boeing then contracted STS Aviation Group’s UK branch to complete the modifications in Birmingham, where more than 100 specialists are converting two commercial airliners, with the remaining aircraft being newly built. Each conversion takes around 24 months, and the first British Wedgetail successfully completed its maiden flight on September 20, 2024. The remaining aircraft are expected to be delivered by 2026.

Sharing key characteristics with the Boeing 737-700ER, the E-7 has undergone several modifications to fulfill its AEW&C role, including the addition of ventral fins to balance the radar’s weight and countermeasures mounted on the nose, wingtips, and tail. (Picture source: British MoD)

The E-7 Wedgetail shares key characteristics with the Boeing 737-700ER and is intended to provide the UK with AEW&C capabilities beyond those offered by ground-based systems and fighter aircraft sensors. The Wedgetail is already in service with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the South Korean Air Force, and the Turkish Air Force, and has also been selected by the United States Air Force and NATO to replace aging fleets.

The E-7 has undergone several modifications to fulfill its AEW&C role, including the addition of ventral fins to balance the radar’s weight and countermeasures mounted on the nose, wingtips, and tail. It is also equipped with in-flight refueling capabilities, enabling longer mission durations. The aircraft’s cabin includes eight operator consoles, though the Australian fleet uses up to ten. The UK variant is expected to follow a similar configuration to support efficient mission management.

The E-7’s primary feature is its Northrop Grumman Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar, housed in a distinctive dorsal fin atop the Boeing 737 Next Generation airframe. This radar provides 360-degree coverage and allows for simultaneous tracking of airborne and maritime targets. It can operate in all weather conditions, with a maximum range exceeding 600 kilometers in look-up mode. The radar also features an ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) capability with a range of over 850 kilometers at 9,000 meters, as well as integrated Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) capabilities extending up to 300 nautical miles (555.6 km).

The E-7’s primary feature is its Northrop Grumman Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar, housed in a distinctive dorsal fin atop the Boeing 737 Next Generation airframe. (Picture source: British MoD)

The MESA radar design ensures performance in range, tracking, and accuracy, with its fixed structure offering an aerodynamic advantage compared to older systems like the E-3 Sentry's rotating radar. The radar system has undergone over 1,200 hours of wind tunnel testing to ensure compatibility with the airframe.

The Wedgetail is also equipped with a communications suite that enhances situational awareness and enables command and control functions. This suite includes three HF, four VHF/UHF, and four UHF channels, as well as Link 11 and Link 16 tactical data links. These systems support voice communication and the sharing of critical tactical information with other assets, including fighter jets and naval vessels. The mission crew, consisting of six to ten operators, works with advanced workstations to manage and control assets in real time. The flight crew consists of two members, and the aircraft has an operational ceiling of 41,000 feet and a range of 3,500 nautical miles, suitable for long-range surveillance missions.