British Air Force conducts new flight trials with first E7 Wedgetail aircraft to boost intelligence
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
According to information published by the British Royal Air Force via its official X account on July 10, 2025, the RAF’s first E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, designated WT001, successfully conducted another test flight as part of its system verification campaign. The flight aimed to confirm the functionality and reliability of mission-critical systems onboard, marking another significant step in the RAF’s transition to a new generation of airborne surveillance and battle management capability.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The first British RAF (Royal Air Force) E-7 Wedgetail aircraft WT001 captured during a test flight conducted on July 10, 2025, as part of ongoing flight trials to validate mission systems and airborne early warning capabilities. (Picture source: British Royal Air Force)
The WT001, the lead aircraft in the Royal Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail program, serves as the primary test and evaluation platform for this critical capability. The “WT” prefix identifies it as the Wedgetail Test airframe, while “001” designates it as the first aircraft in the RAF fleet. WT001 is undergoing a rigorous series of ground and flight evaluations designed to certify the aircraft’s systems, including its mission suite, radar performance, communications integration, and data fusion capabilities. Its test campaign will directly inform the readiness and configuration of the remaining two aircraft on order.
The E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) is developed by Boeing and based on the 737 Next Generation commercial airframe. It integrates the Northrop Grumman Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar, mounted in a dorsal fin structure, providing 360-degree coverage and the capability to track both airborne and maritime targets over a range exceeding 400 kilometers. Designed for high-tempo battle management, the system allows simultaneous surveillance, airspace control, and friendly force coordination in real time. The aircraft’s mission systems also incorporate advanced digital communications, threat tracking software, and a flexible open-architecture design that supports future capability upgrades.
The United Kingdom finalized its acquisition contract with Boeing in March 2019, initially seeking five aircraft to replace the RAF’s retiring fleet of E-3D Sentry AWACS. However, a revised procurement plan reduced the total order to three airframes, with deliveries scheduled through 2026. The overall program is valued at approximately £1.89 billion and encompasses aircraft conversion, radar integration, support equipment, and training systems. The conversion process is being conducted at Birmingham Airport by STS Aviation Services, ensuring a direct contribution by British industry to the delivery of this next-generation capability.
For the RAF, the E-7 Wedgetail represents a transformational upgrade in airborne early warning, command, and control operations. Its extended endurance of over ten hours, reduced crew requirements, and superior sensor accuracy enable more effective force coordination across air, land, and sea domains. The aircraft’s mobility and interoperability also enhance the RAF’s ability to contribute to NATO air policing, ballistic missile defense, and multinational air campaigns. Unlike its predecessor, the E-7 provides real-time mission control and dynamic retasking, significantly improving operational responsiveness and survivability in contested environments.
As the global threat landscape becomes more complex and peer adversaries expand their capabilities, the E-7 Wedgetail ensures the UK retains a critical edge in the airborne battle management domain. Continued progress in WT001’s flight testing campaign reinforces the Royal Air Force’s commitment to fielding a state-of-the-art AEW&C platform capable of supporting both national defense and coalition operations well into the next decade.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
According to information published by the British Royal Air Force via its official X account on July 10, 2025, the RAF’s first E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, designated WT001, successfully conducted another test flight as part of its system verification campaign. The flight aimed to confirm the functionality and reliability of mission-critical systems onboard, marking another significant step in the RAF’s transition to a new generation of airborne surveillance and battle management capability.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The first British RAF (Royal Air Force) E-7 Wedgetail aircraft WT001 captured during a test flight conducted on July 10, 2025, as part of ongoing flight trials to validate mission systems and airborne early warning capabilities. (Picture source: British Royal Air Force)
The WT001, the lead aircraft in the Royal Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail program, serves as the primary test and evaluation platform for this critical capability. The “WT” prefix identifies it as the Wedgetail Test airframe, while “001” designates it as the first aircraft in the RAF fleet. WT001 is undergoing a rigorous series of ground and flight evaluations designed to certify the aircraft’s systems, including its mission suite, radar performance, communications integration, and data fusion capabilities. Its test campaign will directly inform the readiness and configuration of the remaining two aircraft on order.
The E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) is developed by Boeing and based on the 737 Next Generation commercial airframe. It integrates the Northrop Grumman Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar, mounted in a dorsal fin structure, providing 360-degree coverage and the capability to track both airborne and maritime targets over a range exceeding 400 kilometers. Designed for high-tempo battle management, the system allows simultaneous surveillance, airspace control, and friendly force coordination in real time. The aircraft’s mission systems also incorporate advanced digital communications, threat tracking software, and a flexible open-architecture design that supports future capability upgrades.
The United Kingdom finalized its acquisition contract with Boeing in March 2019, initially seeking five aircraft to replace the RAF’s retiring fleet of E-3D Sentry AWACS. However, a revised procurement plan reduced the total order to three airframes, with deliveries scheduled through 2026. The overall program is valued at approximately £1.89 billion and encompasses aircraft conversion, radar integration, support equipment, and training systems. The conversion process is being conducted at Birmingham Airport by STS Aviation Services, ensuring a direct contribution by British industry to the delivery of this next-generation capability.
For the RAF, the E-7 Wedgetail represents a transformational upgrade in airborne early warning, command, and control operations. Its extended endurance of over ten hours, reduced crew requirements, and superior sensor accuracy enable more effective force coordination across air, land, and sea domains. The aircraft’s mobility and interoperability also enhance the RAF’s ability to contribute to NATO air policing, ballistic missile defense, and multinational air campaigns. Unlike its predecessor, the E-7 provides real-time mission control and dynamic retasking, significantly improving operational responsiveness and survivability in contested environments.
As the global threat landscape becomes more complex and peer adversaries expand their capabilities, the E-7 Wedgetail ensures the UK retains a critical edge in the airborne battle management domain. Continued progress in WT001’s flight testing campaign reinforces the Royal Air Force’s commitment to fielding a state-of-the-art AEW&C platform capable of supporting both national defense and coalition operations well into the next decade.
