Boeing completes first flight of second E-7A Wedgetail for the RAF

Boeing has completed the maiden flight of the second E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft built for the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force (RAF). The company also announced that it had secured a new contract to support the aircraft’s entry into service. The milestone stands out as tangible progress for an RAF Wedgetail programme that has been marked by delays.

First flight departed from Birmingham

According to FlightGlobal, the functional check flight of the second aircraft, designated WT002, took off from Birmingham Airport on 15 July and lasted around two hours. Although the Boeing 737-700 airframe underpinning the aircraft had flown before, the 15 July sortie was the first flight following the platform’s extensive conversion into the E-7 configuration.

As part of that conversion, Northrop Grumman’s Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar was integrated onto the top of the fuselage. Mission systems, operator workstations and military communications equipment were also installed aboard the aircraft. In imagery released by the RAF, WT002 appears in a metallic green primer finish, yet to receive its final livery.

What is the E-7 Wedgetail for?

The E-7 Wedgetail is an aircraft designed for airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) missions. Thanks to the fixed MESA radar mounted above its fuselage, it can survey a wide swathe of airspace, detecting air and surface targets at long range and directing friendly assets. That capability effectively turns the aircraft into a flying command-and-control node.

The Wedgetail is among the leading candidates to replace ageing E-3 Sentry AWACS fleets. Already in service with Australia and South Korea in addition to the United Kingdom, the type is also being considered in the US Air Force’s plans to phase out its own E-3 fleet.

Delays and a new support contract

The RAF’s Wedgetail programme had drawn attention for slippage in its delivery timeline, with the first aircraft’s entry into service pushed back to 2026. That first aircraft is currently undergoing test and evaluation at RAF Lossiemouth. The flight of the second airframe indicates the programme is progressing toward completing its planned three-aircraft RAF fleet.

The new support contract awarded to Boeing is intended to ease the aircraft’s path into operational service. Conversion work on the third and final RAF aircraft, meanwhile, is being carried out by STS Aviation Services. WT002 is expected to undergo additional checks before it is ferried for painting, after which it will take on the colours of No. VIII Squadron.

Relevance for Türkiye

Airborne early warning and control is a field that Türkiye follows closely as well. The Turkish Air Force has long operated Boeing 737-based “Barış Kartalı” (Peace Eagle) AEW&C aircraft, and these platforms fulfil a comparable early warning role.

The wider adoption of new-generation AEW&C aircraft such as the Wedgetail among allied nations contributes to the standardisation of airspace awareness and network-centric warfare capabilities across NATO. A growing share of such platforms in national inventories also matters for data sharing and integration in joint operations within the alliance.

Sources

1. FlightGlobal – “RAF’s second Wedgetail gets airborne as Boeing lands new support contracts” – 16 July 2026. Used for the first-flight date, flight duration, departure point and support contract. Link: https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/2026/07/rafs-second-wedgetail-gets-airborne-as-boeing-lands-new-support-contracts/
2. Aviation Week – “Boeing Flies Second E-7 Wedgetail For UK” – 17 July 2026. Used for the aircraft’s configuration and programme status. Link: https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/boeing-flies-second-e-7-wedgetail-uk
3. Zona Militar – British RAF E-7 Wedgetail test flights – 17 July 2026. Used for the radar and mission systems integration. Link: https://www.zona-militar.com/2026/07/17/