US Air Force Airborne Early Warning Modernization Begins with First E-7A Wedgetail Fuselage Delivery to Boeing
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
On January 22, 2025, Boeing received the first fuselage for the U.S. Air Force’s (USAF) E-7A Wedgetail, marking a pivotal step in the service’s efforts to modernize its airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) capabilities. The E-7A is poised to replace the aging fleet of Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, which has been in service since the 1970s. With a $2.56 billion contract finalized in 2024, the USAF is investing heavily in this new aircraft to enhance its surveillance, command, and control capabilities in increasingly complex and contested airspaces.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The first fuselage for the U.S. Air Force’s E-7A Wedgetail arrives at Boeing’s 737 assembly facility in Renton, Washington, on January 22, 2025, marking the start of the USAF’s next-generation airborne early warning modernization program. (Picture source: Boeing Defense)
The fuselage, which was produced by Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas, was delivered by rail to Boeing’s Renton facility, where it will be integrated into the 737 production line. The first prototype will undergo modifications to accommodate the mission systems, radar systems, and other military-specific equipment that will transform the commercial airframe into a fully capable AEW&C platform. The E-7A Wedgetail is based on the Boeing 737-700 airframe, which has been successfully used for other military variants, such as the P-8A Poseidon. This platform’s proven reliability and availability will significantly streamline development timelines and reduce costs. Once completed, the aircraft will feature a large dorsal-mounted Northrop Grumman Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar, which will provide 360-degree surveillance capabilities, a vast improvement over the rotating radar dome used in the E-3 Sentry.
The E-7A Wedgetail program is part of a broader effort by the U.S. Air Force to modernize its AEW&C capabilities, as the E-3 fleet faces increasing maintenance costs due to aging technology. Boeing’s announcement follows the USAF’s August 2024 $2.56 billion contract for the rapid prototyping of two E-7A Wedgetails. The USAF plans to acquire 26 aircraft by 2032, with the first two expected to be delivered by 2028.
In April 2022, the U.S. Air Force announced that the E-7 would replace the E-3, as it “is the only platform capable of meeting the requirements for the Defense Department’s tactical battle management, command and control, and moving target indication capabilities within the timeframe needed.” This decision was driven by the technological limitations of the E-3 Sentry, which has been in service for over 40 years. While the E-3 relies on a rotating radar dome (the AN/APY-1), the E-7A Wedgetail will feature a fixed, electronically scanned radar that provides continuous 360-degree coverage and significantly improved detection capabilities.
In 2023, the U.S. Air Force awarded an initial $1.2 billion contract to develop two U.S.-specific variants of the E-7. This contract is part of the broader effort to deliver the E-7A Wedgetail in the shortest possible time frame. A final production decision for a total fleet of 26 aircraft is expected in 2025, with the first E-7A Wedgetail entering service by 2027. The rapid development timeline reflects the urgency with which the U.S. Air Force seeks to modernize its airborne command and control platforms to meet the growing threats posed by near-peer adversaries.
The E-7A Wedgetail represents a major leap forward in terms of radar performance, mission systems, and operational efficiency. The E-3 Sentry, in service since the 1970s, relies on a rotating radar dome, which is less reliable, more expensive to maintain, and less effective in detecting and tracking modern threats. In contrast, the E-7A is equipped with the Northrop Grumman Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar system. Unlike the rotating radar dome, the MESA system provides continuous 360-degree coverage and is capable of detecting both air and surface targets. This fixed radar system is more reliable and offers real-time, uninterrupted tracking capabilities.
In addition to its advanced radar system, the E-7A Wedgetail will be equipped with a modern suite of mission systems that enable seamless integration with other military assets, including air, ground, and maritime forces. The aircraft will serve multiple roles, from command and control to surveillance, reconnaissance, and battle management. The USAF’s decision to go with the Wedgetail underscores the need for greater flexibility and adaptability in AEW&C platforms, as the E-7A is designed to operate effectively across a wide range of mission scenarios, including air superiority and missile defense.
The E-7A’s mission system integrates cutting-edge communication and data-sharing capabilities, allowing for real-time intelligence dissemination and coordination across multiple domains. This makes the aircraft an indispensable tool for modern warfare, where the ability to manage complex, multi-domain battlespaces is increasingly crucial. Additionally, the E-7A’s advanced electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) and more resistant radar will ensure that it remains effective even in environments with sophisticated electronic warfare threats.
The E-7A also offers enhanced operational availability compared to the E-3. The E-3 Sentry, with its aging systems, has become a maintenance burden, leading to significant operational downtime. The E-7A’s use of a more reliable and modern platform—the Boeing 737—means it will benefit from higher mission availability, reduced maintenance cycles, and lower long-term costs.
Another key advantage of the E-7A is its crew efficiency. The aircraft utilizes a commercial 737 cockpit, which is more modern and ergonomically designed compared to the outdated systems in the E-3. This reduces pilot workload and improves overall mission safety and effectiveness.
The arrival of the first fuselage for the U.S. Air Force’s E-7A Wedgetail in January 2025 is a significant step forward in the modernization of the USAF’s AEW&C capabilities. With its superior radar, advanced mission systems, and greater operational reliability, the E-7A will provide a marked improvement over the aging E-3 Sentry. The aircraft’s multi-role flexibility, coupled with its cost-effectiveness, makes it a future-proof solution for the USAF’s critical surveillance and command-and-control needs. As the USAF plans to retire its E-3 fleet in the coming years, the E-7A Wedgetail is poised to take over as the backbone of airborne surveillance, offering the Air Force a cutting-edge platform capable of meeting the demands of modern warfare.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
On January 22, 2025, Boeing received the first fuselage for the U.S. Air Force’s (USAF) E-7A Wedgetail, marking a pivotal step in the service’s efforts to modernize its airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) capabilities. The E-7A is poised to replace the aging fleet of Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, which has been in service since the 1970s. With a $2.56 billion contract finalized in 2024, the USAF is investing heavily in this new aircraft to enhance its surveillance, command, and control capabilities in increasingly complex and contested airspaces.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The first fuselage for the U.S. Air Force’s E-7A Wedgetail arrives at Boeing’s 737 assembly facility in Renton, Washington, on January 22, 2025, marking the start of the USAF’s next-generation airborne early warning modernization program. (Picture source: Boeing Defense)
The fuselage, which was produced by Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas, was delivered by rail to Boeing’s Renton facility, where it will be integrated into the 737 production line. The first prototype will undergo modifications to accommodate the mission systems, radar systems, and other military-specific equipment that will transform the commercial airframe into a fully capable AEW&C platform. The E-7A Wedgetail is based on the Boeing 737-700 airframe, which has been successfully used for other military variants, such as the P-8A Poseidon. This platform’s proven reliability and availability will significantly streamline development timelines and reduce costs. Once completed, the aircraft will feature a large dorsal-mounted Northrop Grumman Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar, which will provide 360-degree surveillance capabilities, a vast improvement over the rotating radar dome used in the E-3 Sentry.
The E-7A Wedgetail program is part of a broader effort by the U.S. Air Force to modernize its AEW&C capabilities, as the E-3 fleet faces increasing maintenance costs due to aging technology. Boeing’s announcement follows the USAF’s August 2024 $2.56 billion contract for the rapid prototyping of two E-7A Wedgetails. The USAF plans to acquire 26 aircraft by 2032, with the first two expected to be delivered by 2028.
In April 2022, the U.S. Air Force announced that the E-7 would replace the E-3, as it “is the only platform capable of meeting the requirements for the Defense Department’s tactical battle management, command and control, and moving target indication capabilities within the timeframe needed.” This decision was driven by the technological limitations of the E-3 Sentry, which has been in service for over 40 years. While the E-3 relies on a rotating radar dome (the AN/APY-1), the E-7A Wedgetail will feature a fixed, electronically scanned radar that provides continuous 360-degree coverage and significantly improved detection capabilities.
In 2023, the U.S. Air Force awarded an initial $1.2 billion contract to develop two U.S.-specific variants of the E-7. This contract is part of the broader effort to deliver the E-7A Wedgetail in the shortest possible time frame. A final production decision for a total fleet of 26 aircraft is expected in 2025, with the first E-7A Wedgetail entering service by 2027. The rapid development timeline reflects the urgency with which the U.S. Air Force seeks to modernize its airborne command and control platforms to meet the growing threats posed by near-peer adversaries.
The E-7A Wedgetail represents a major leap forward in terms of radar performance, mission systems, and operational efficiency. The E-3 Sentry, in service since the 1970s, relies on a rotating radar dome, which is less reliable, more expensive to maintain, and less effective in detecting and tracking modern threats. In contrast, the E-7A is equipped with the Northrop Grumman Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar system. Unlike the rotating radar dome, the MESA system provides continuous 360-degree coverage and is capable of detecting both air and surface targets. This fixed radar system is more reliable and offers real-time, uninterrupted tracking capabilities.
In addition to its advanced radar system, the E-7A Wedgetail will be equipped with a modern suite of mission systems that enable seamless integration with other military assets, including air, ground, and maritime forces. The aircraft will serve multiple roles, from command and control to surveillance, reconnaissance, and battle management. The USAF’s decision to go with the Wedgetail underscores the need for greater flexibility and adaptability in AEW&C platforms, as the E-7A is designed to operate effectively across a wide range of mission scenarios, including air superiority and missile defense.
The E-7A’s mission system integrates cutting-edge communication and data-sharing capabilities, allowing for real-time intelligence dissemination and coordination across multiple domains. This makes the aircraft an indispensable tool for modern warfare, where the ability to manage complex, multi-domain battlespaces is increasingly crucial. Additionally, the E-7A’s advanced electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) and more resistant radar will ensure that it remains effective even in environments with sophisticated electronic warfare threats.
The E-7A also offers enhanced operational availability compared to the E-3. The E-3 Sentry, with its aging systems, has become a maintenance burden, leading to significant operational downtime. The E-7A’s use of a more reliable and modern platform—the Boeing 737—means it will benefit from higher mission availability, reduced maintenance cycles, and lower long-term costs.
Another key advantage of the E-7A is its crew efficiency. The aircraft utilizes a commercial 737 cockpit, which is more modern and ergonomically designed compared to the outdated systems in the E-3. This reduces pilot workload and improves overall mission safety and effectiveness.
The arrival of the first fuselage for the U.S. Air Force’s E-7A Wedgetail in January 2025 is a significant step forward in the modernization of the USAF’s AEW&C capabilities. With its superior radar, advanced mission systems, and greater operational reliability, the E-7A will provide a marked improvement over the aging E-3 Sentry. The aircraft’s multi-role flexibility, coupled with its cost-effectiveness, makes it a future-proof solution for the USAF’s critical surveillance and command-and-control needs. As the USAF plans to retire its E-3 fleet in the coming years, the E-7A Wedgetail is poised to take over as the backbone of airborne surveillance, offering the Air Force a cutting-edge platform capable of meeting the demands of modern warfare.
