BREAKING NEWS: UK to build E-7 Wedgetail intelligence aircraft for US Air Force in historic postwar defense shift
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According to information published by the British Ministry of Defence on September 18, 2025, the United Kingdom will, for the first time since World War II, manufacture airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for the United States. The landmark decision marks a pivotal expansion in transatlantic defense-industrial collaboration, as Britain begins work on the U.S. Air Force’s E-7A Wedgetail fleet, a high-value airborne surveillance platform critical for next-generation air superiority.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
A British E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft under modification in Birmingham. Based on the Boeing 737 airframe and equipped with the MESA radar, the E-7 provides long-range surveillance, command and control, and airspace management capabilities. The platform is set to become a key asset for both the UK and U.S. Air Forces, enhancing NATO’s airborne situational awareness and joint operational coordination. (Picture source: UK MoD)
The move represents more than just industrial cooperation. It underscores a deepening operational convergence between the U.S. and UK militaries at a time when NATO’s eastern flank faces increasing pressure, and Indo-Pacific challenges continue to mount. By equipping both nations with a shared AEW&C architecture, the E-7 program is expected to significantly enhance coalition interoperability and cross-domain situational awareness.
The E-7 Wedgetail is a cutting-edge airborne early warning and control platform based on the Boeing 737 Next Generation commercial airframe, heavily modified to perform complex air surveillance, battle management, and command-and-control missions. At the heart of the aircraft is the Northrop Grumman MESA (Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array) radar, a top-mounted active electronically scanned array capable of tracking hundreds of targets across air and sea domains at ranges exceeding 300 miles. Unlike its predecessor, the E-3 Sentry AWACS, the E-7 delivers a much faster scan rate, enhanced track fidelity, and lower operational costs due to its newer airframe and modern avionics suite.
For the U.S. Air Force, the acquisition of the E-7 Wedgetail is a critical step in replacing its aging fleet of E-3 AWACS aircraft, which have become increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain. Originally introduced in the 1970s, the E-3 is facing obsolescence in the face of high-end peer threats and contested electronic warfare environments. The E-7 offers improved performance against stealth aircraft, ballistic missile threats, and complex air operations, making it a keystone system in the U.S. Air Force’s future command-and-control architecture. It is especially vital for maintaining information dominance in joint and coalition operations across the Indo-Pacific and European theaters.
The UK has already committed to acquiring three E-7s for the Royal Air Force, with first delivery scheduled in 2026. However, today’s announcement signals a historical shift: two prototype E-7A Wedgetail aircraft destined for the United States Air Force will undergo structural and systems modifications in Birmingham, using newly built commercial airframes. This effort will be spearheaded by Boeing Defence UK, creating 150 new skilled jobs and building on an existing E-7 program workforce of 190. Of those, 130 are already working in Birmingham on RAF aircraft configurations.
The announcement follows the UK’s new Defence Industrial Strategy unveiled last week, which injects £250 million into regional defense growth and includes £182 million for a new national skills package. Five new Defense Technical Excellence Colleges will train thousands of specialists to meet the surge in demand for engineering, avionics, and systems integration roles across the British defense sector. The E-7 deal is expected to act as a cornerstone project within this larger economic and industrial transformation.
More than 40 UK-based suppliers are currently engaged in the British RAF’s (Royal Air Force) Wedgetail program. Additionally, two new engineering facilities at RAF Lossiemouth are being constructed with Scottish firms, supporting the long-term maintenance and basing of the aircraft. The production of U.S. variants at UK facilities is expected to further integrate this supply chain into the broader NATO and Five Eyes surveillance infrastructure.
On the American side, major U.S. defense contractors remain integral to the E-7’s development. While structural and systems work will be conducted in the UK, final checkout and delivery will be completed in the U.S., with hundreds of American engineers and aerospace workers supporting the handover and fleet sustainment phases. This bilateral industrial loop reinforces mutual dependency and secures a sustainable supply chain for both nations as legacy airborne surveillance assets phase out.
Defense analysts view the move as strategically significant. “By sharing the E-7 production workload, the UK and U.S. are effectively hardening their ISR infrastructure against global supply chain risks,” said Dr. Rachel Croft, an airpower expert at the Royal United Services Institute. “This also ensures both nations can surge production and deliver common fleet upgrades faster in response to a crisis.”
With the British RAF’s E-7 surveillance aircraft fleet already undergoing fitting and systems integration in Birmingham, and U.S. variants now entering the same pipeline, the program’s combined momentum signals a new era in shared intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability for NATO’s two largest defense contributors.Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition GroupAlain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.
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According to information published by the British Ministry of Defence on September 18, 2025, the United Kingdom will, for the first time since World War II, manufacture airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for the United States. The landmark decision marks a pivotal expansion in transatlantic defense-industrial collaboration, as Britain begins work on the U.S. Air Force’s E-7A Wedgetail fleet, a high-value airborne surveillance platform critical for next-generation air superiority.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
A British E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft under modification in Birmingham. Based on the Boeing 737 airframe and equipped with the MESA radar, the E-7 provides long-range surveillance, command and control, and airspace management capabilities. The platform is set to become a key asset for both the UK and U.S. Air Forces, enhancing NATO’s airborne situational awareness and joint operational coordination. (Picture source: UK MoD)
The move represents more than just industrial cooperation. It underscores a deepening operational convergence between the U.S. and UK militaries at a time when NATO’s eastern flank faces increasing pressure, and Indo-Pacific challenges continue to mount. By equipping both nations with a shared AEW&C architecture, the E-7 program is expected to significantly enhance coalition interoperability and cross-domain situational awareness.
The E-7 Wedgetail is a cutting-edge airborne early warning and control platform based on the Boeing 737 Next Generation commercial airframe, heavily modified to perform complex air surveillance, battle management, and command-and-control missions. At the heart of the aircraft is the Northrop Grumman MESA (Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array) radar, a top-mounted active electronically scanned array capable of tracking hundreds of targets across air and sea domains at ranges exceeding 300 miles. Unlike its predecessor, the E-3 Sentry AWACS, the E-7 delivers a much faster scan rate, enhanced track fidelity, and lower operational costs due to its newer airframe and modern avionics suite.
For the U.S. Air Force, the acquisition of the E-7 Wedgetail is a critical step in replacing its aging fleet of E-3 AWACS aircraft, which have become increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain. Originally introduced in the 1970s, the E-3 is facing obsolescence in the face of high-end peer threats and contested electronic warfare environments. The E-7 offers improved performance against stealth aircraft, ballistic missile threats, and complex air operations, making it a keystone system in the U.S. Air Force’s future command-and-control architecture. It is especially vital for maintaining information dominance in joint and coalition operations across the Indo-Pacific and European theaters.
The UK has already committed to acquiring three E-7s for the Royal Air Force, with first delivery scheduled in 2026. However, today’s announcement signals a historical shift: two prototype E-7A Wedgetail aircraft destined for the United States Air Force will undergo structural and systems modifications in Birmingham, using newly built commercial airframes. This effort will be spearheaded by Boeing Defence UK, creating 150 new skilled jobs and building on an existing E-7 program workforce of 190. Of those, 130 are already working in Birmingham on RAF aircraft configurations.
The announcement follows the UK’s new Defence Industrial Strategy unveiled last week, which injects £250 million into regional defense growth and includes £182 million for a new national skills package. Five new Defense Technical Excellence Colleges will train thousands of specialists to meet the surge in demand for engineering, avionics, and systems integration roles across the British defense sector. The E-7 deal is expected to act as a cornerstone project within this larger economic and industrial transformation.
More than 40 UK-based suppliers are currently engaged in the British RAF’s (Royal Air Force) Wedgetail program. Additionally, two new engineering facilities at RAF Lossiemouth are being constructed with Scottish firms, supporting the long-term maintenance and basing of the aircraft. The production of U.S. variants at UK facilities is expected to further integrate this supply chain into the broader NATO and Five Eyes surveillance infrastructure.
On the American side, major U.S. defense contractors remain integral to the E-7’s development. While structural and systems work will be conducted in the UK, final checkout and delivery will be completed in the U.S., with hundreds of American engineers and aerospace workers supporting the handover and fleet sustainment phases. This bilateral industrial loop reinforces mutual dependency and secures a sustainable supply chain for both nations as legacy airborne surveillance assets phase out.
Defense analysts view the move as strategically significant. “By sharing the E-7 production workload, the UK and U.S. are effectively hardening their ISR infrastructure against global supply chain risks,” said Dr. Rachel Croft, an airpower expert at the Royal United Services Institute. “This also ensures both nations can surge production and deliver common fleet upgrades faster in response to a crisis.”
With the British RAF’s E-7 surveillance aircraft fleet already undergoing fitting and systems integration in Birmingham, and U.S. variants now entering the same pipeline, the program’s combined momentum signals a new era in shared intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability for NATO’s two largest defense contributors.
Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.
