A deal between Boeing and the UK MOD will establish aircraft modification capabilities in Birmingham to produce two prototype E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft for the US Air Force, representing the first UK-built military aircraft for American forces since the early 1970s.
The programme involves converting two Boeing 737 commercial airframes into advanced surveillance platforms equipped with multi-role electronically scanned array radar systems capable of detecting aerial threats at ranges exceeding 300 miles (483km).
The modification facility in Birmingham will undertake structural modifications, systems integration, and installation of the distinctive dorsal radar array that characterizes the Wedgetail platform.
The UK’s RAF has ordered three E-7 aircraft that are currently undergoing modification at the Birmingham facility. The first UK aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2026, with operational capability planned for later that year.
The aircraft features Northrop Grumman-supplied Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar providing 360-degree coverage for simultaneous air and maritime surveillance.
“The deal benefits both UK and US national security by strengthening the special relationship, while developing the fleet of surveillance aircraft both nations will share in the future,” said John Healey, UK defence secretary.
The Birmingham site currently employs 130 personnel on the UK Wedgetail programme. The additional USAF contract will create 150 new positions for aircraft modification specialists, avionics technicians, and systems integration engineers.
More than 40 UK suppliers contribute to the E-7 programme, including companies providing avionics components, electrical systems, and structural modifications. The supply chain extends to the construction of two engineering facilities at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland to support the aircraft’s operational deployment.
The E-7 platform integrates battlefield management capabilities with its surveillance functions, enabling coordination of multiple aircraft types during complex operations. The aircraft’s open architecture mission systems allow integration of additional sensors and communication systems as requirements evolve.
Following modifications in Birmingham, the two prototype aircraft will transfer to the USA for final assembly, checkout procedures, and integration of US-specific mission systems. US defence contractors provide components for the global E-7 supply chain, with Boeing facilities conducting final acceptance testing before delivery to the US Air Force.
