Boeing awarded Contract for Two Rapid Prototype E-7A AEW&C Aircraft
August 11, 2024
The US Air Force has awarded Boeing a US $2.56 billion contract for two rapid prototype E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft. The contract includes lifecycle development, training and support for the US Air Force’s E-7A fleet.
The E-7 AEW&C aircraft is based on the airframe of the Boeing 737-700NG, carrying a Northrop Grumman MESA (Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array) Surveillance Radar in a dorsal fairing, providing the warfighter with an unrestricted 360-degree view. The MESA radar gives mission crews the ability to track airborne and maritime targets while maintaining continuous surveillance of the operational area. The aircraft offers lower operating and sustainment costs than its predecessor, with better sensor performance, and higher mission readiness rates. It also gives unmatched interoperability with a growing global user community. Combat-proven in RAAF service, the E-7A Wedgetail provides targeted tracking and battle management command-and-control capabilities to joint forces. This gives a powerful “first to detect, first to engage” advantage.
The E-7 AEW&C aircraft is currently in service with the Royal Australian Air Force (with whom it is designated as the E-7A Wedgetail), the Republic of Korea Air Force (designated as the E-737 Peace Eye) and the Turkish Air Force (designated as the E-7T Peace Eagle). Boeing is currently producing three E-7As for the Royal Air Force, with modifications by STS underway at Birmingham airport in the United Kingdom. Additionally, NATO selected the E-7A as its preferred AEW&C solution in November 2023, placing an initial order for six aircraft. The USAF’s 26 aircraft order will be preceded by the two rapid prototype E-7As.
The Royal Australian Air Force, US Air Force and Royal Air Force, have a Wedgetail tri-lateral cooperation agreement ensuring co-operation in E-7 capability development, evaluation and testing, operations, interoperability, sustainment, training and safety.
Boeing Vice President and E-7 Program Manager Stu Voboril observed that: “Global operators are proving that the E-7 AEW&C is a critical node for air superiority in the modern battlespace. In our partnership with the U.S. Air Force, we’re focused on stable, predictable execution to deliver crucial mission-ready capabilities today. This will put us on the path for the long-term growth of the aircraft and mission.”
Dan Gillian, vice president and general manager of Boeing Defense, Space & Security’s Mobility, Surveillance & Bombers division added that: “Our customers have an urgent need for integrated battlespace awareness and battle management. The E-7A is the airspace lynchpin to continuously scan the skies, command and control the battlespace, and integrate all-domain data providing a decisive advantage against threats. With our open systems architecture approach, capabilities can be rapidly inserted over time as threats evolve.”
