Boeing has been awarded a US$2.56 billion contract by the U.S. Air Force to develop two rapid prototype E-7A AEW&C Wedgetail aircraft. The contract encompasses lifecycle development, training and support for the Air Force’s E-7A fleet.
The combat-proven E-7A Wedgetail delivers advanced tracking and battle management command-and-control capabilities, providing joint forces with a “first to detect, first to engage” advantage. The E-7 AEW&C platform is currently in service with the Royal Australian Air Force, the Republic of Korea Air Force (under the designation E-737 Peace Eye), and the Turkish Air Force (designated E-7T Peace Eagle). Built on the Boeing 737-700 NG airframe, the E-7 AEW&C aircraft offers lower operating and sustainment costs, higher mission readiness rates, and unmatched interoperability among a growing global user community.
“Global operators are proving that the E-7 AEW&C is a critical node for air superiority in the modern battlespace,” said Boeing Vice President and E-7 Program Manager Stu Voboril. “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.”
In addition to the rapid prototype E-7A AEW&C Wedgetail aircraft being developed for the U.S. Air Force, Boeing is currently producing three E-7As for the Royal Air Force, with military modifications ongoing in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, NATO has selected the E-7A as its preferred AEW&C solution.
The Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and U.S. Air Force have established a tri-lateral cooperation agreement regarding E-7 aircraft capability development, evaluation and testing, interoperability, sustainment, operations, training, and safety.
