Air Warfare

UK airborne early warning programme approaches milestone

8th April 2021 - 11:36 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

RSS

STS Aviation Services is converting three ex-commercial B-737s to the E-7A Wedgetail Mk1 configuration for the RAF. (Photo: Boeing UK)

Military Aviation Authority clears STS and Boeing to begin Wedgetail conversion.

STS Aviation Services is about to begin conversion work in Birmingham on the first new E-7A Wedgetail Mk1 AEW&C aircraft for the RAF, Boeing UK announced via social media on 6 April.

The statement came after the Military Aviation Authority in the UK MoD gave the green light for STS and Boeing to modify three B-737 commercial aircraft.

Wedgetail is expected to enter service with the RAF in 2023, two years after the E-3D Sentry retires from service.

As noted by Shephard Defence Insight, the UK ordered five aircraft for $1.98 million in March 2019 with a predicted out-of-service date of 2045.

However, the MoD cut this requirement in its 22 March Command Paper, which mentioned a ‘more modern and more capable fleet of three E-7A Wedgetail [aircraft] in 2023’.

As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.