The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded Boeing a $2.56 billion contract to develop and deliver two rapid prototype E-7A Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Wedgetail aircraft.
This contract also includes lifecycle development, training, and support for the USAF’s E-7A fleet.
The E-7A Wedgetail is an advanced airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft developed by Boeing. It is based on the Boeing 737-700 airframe and equipped with a radar system mounted on the top of its fuselage. Unlike its predecessor the Boeing E-3 Sentry, the Wedgetail features a fixed radome.
“Global operators are proving that the E-7 AEW&C is a critical node for air superiority in the modern battlespace,” said Boeing Vice President and E-7 Program Manager Stu Voboril.
The USAF, Royal Air Force, and Royal Australian Air Force have signed a collaborative agreement to improve the capabilities of E-7 aircraft, foster interoperability, and bolster long-term growth and operational effectiveness.
“The signing of this joint vision statement by our three Air Forces is an exciting opportunity that will allow us to work collaboratively to develop our Wedgetail fleets to ensure that they remain ready to provide Airborne Early Warning & Control as the threats and challenges we face change,” Royal Air Force Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, said at the time.
A successor to the iconic Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS
The Wedgetail was originally developed for the Royal Australian Air Force and is also in service with the Republic of Korea Air Force and Turkish Air Force. Boeing is assembling three E-7A aircraft for the Royal Air Force, currently being modified in the United Kingdom.
NATO also selected the E-7A as its preferred AEW&C solution on November 15, 2023, as its existing Airborne Warning and Control (AWACS) fleet, comprised of Boeing E-3A aircraft, approaches its retirement. Six new E-7A Wedgetail aircraft were ordered, with the first aircraft expected to be operational by 2031.
Boeing claims that the transition from the E-3 Sentry to the E-7A Wedgetail is relatively seamless, thanks to the similar user interfaces across both platforms.