Two of the five Boeing E-7 Wedgetail aircraft for RAF will be converted from commercial airliners

RAF E-7 converted commercial airliners
Two of the five Boeing E-7 Wedgetail aircraft for RAF will be converted from commercial airliners.

According to a letter released by Stuart Andrew, British Minister for Defense Procurement, two of the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft purchased for the RAF will be converted from commercial airliners.

"Boeing has sourced two 737NG from the commercial market and secured a further three production slots on this Seattle producion line in 2021 and 2022 to meet our needs. The conversion of these five aircraft to the E-7 AEW&C standard will be undertaken at Marshall Aerospace's facilities in Cambridge," Stuart said.

He also ensured that the aircraft will not include the 737MAX technology.

"The 737NG pre-dates the 737MAX and therefore does not include 737MAX development technologies, including the much publicised 737 Manoeuvring Charateristics Augmentation System (MCAS) software."

Stuart also wrote that the current contract covers the aircraft procurement and conversion. The deal for the training, infrastructure and other services will be finalized within the next two years.

As for the timing, he said that the modification of the first aircraft should begin in 2021, while the fifth and final aircraft should be completed by early 2026.

Written by Matteo Sanzani
Image: Commonwealth of Australia/Department of Defence/Cpl David Cotton


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