RAF Wedgetail Program Taking Off
The conversion of three Boeing 737 airframes for the AEW&C role is proceeding at the UK facility of STS Aviation Services.
The RAF’s new E-7 Wedgetail AEW&C arrived in the UK last week for conversion from the Boeing 737NG airframe. (Photo: RAF)
The RAF’s new E-7 Wedgetail AEW&C arrived in the UK last week for conversion from the Boeing 737NG airframe. (Photo: RAF)

The last of three E-7 Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft being supplied to the UK Royal Air Force arrived in the country last week, for conversion from the Boeing 737NG airframe. Principles described the program in some detail last Friday during a briefing at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), held just before the Farnborough Airshow.

The RAF ordered five E-7s in 2019 to replace its aging E-3 Sentry fleet. It reduced the order to three aircraft last year, in a British defense review. Two of them are second-hand airliners, the third is new-build. The E-7s are due to enter service in 2024. Until then, there will be a capability gap because the RAF has just retired its last three flyable E-3s and sold them to Chile.