Boeing E-7 Wedgetail

[McColm]

 The USAF needs to replace their aging Boeing E-3 Sentry fleet originally they ordered the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail but due to technical problems and spiralling costs the Trump Administration has decided to use the Grumman E-2Ds.

Across the pond the British Royal Air Force has also ordered the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail but the only serviceable aircraft has also run into technical problems due to the specifications. Reports have suggested that the aircraft has only flown three times and 164 million pounds has been spent so far on this project. Both the M.O.D.U.K and Boeing are keeping quiet on the progress.  Unlike the Americans the UK doesn't have a dedicated alternative option, the Royal Navy's Merlin Crows Nest AEW helicopters have also run into technical problems and a replacement is being sought, NATO E-3s are providing coverage.

Other customers such as the Royal Australian Air Force are providing training for the RAF crews. Turkey and the Republic of Korea have also selected the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail.
NATO has shown an interest to replace its 14 E-3As,so has Saudi Arabia and possibly Canada.
Italy has chosen the Gulfstream G550 CAEW.
United Arab Emirates choice is the Saab GlobalEye.

Other alternatives are; the SAAB GlobalEye which uses the Erieye radar installed on the Bombardier Global 6000/6500 long-range business jet.

Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.

Boeing E-767

Embraer R-99

Gulfstream G550 CAEW

[McColm]

Model kits and conversionsthat are currently available as of June 2025

1/72 Broplan vacuform & injection moulded parts Saab GlobalEye



1/72 Custom Gulfstream G550 CAEW



1/72 RVHP Embraer R-99



Boeing E767 JASDF
1/144 Welsh Models,  1/200 Hasegawa,  1/700 Pit-Road



Boeing E-7 Wedgetail
1/72 Welsh Models South Korean  Peace Eye
1/72 BPK
1/144 Academy
1/144 Contrails conversion set
1/144 Hawkeye Models conversion set



Grumman E-2D is well provided for in various scales

Decals can be sourced for all of these models on aftermarket websites.

[McColm]

Reports indicate that the UK will build the USAF Boeing E-7s to replace the Boeing E-3 Sentry fleet, then fly them back to the USA for finishing off to the required specifications.
The USNAVY will probably fill the gap until the first batch of E-7s are ready for service in the USA.

[jcf]

Reports indicate that the UK will build the USAF Boeing E-7s to replace the Boeing E-3 Sentry fleet, then fly them back to the USA for finishing off to the required specifications.
The USNAVY will probably fill the gap until the first batch of E-7s are ready for service in the USA.

No, they'll be doing the extensive structural conversion work on Renton built 737s. Very extensive as for all intents and purposes the 46 section is new, aft of wing to fwd. of the tail is disassembled and rebuilt with heavier deeper section frames, longerons, thicker skin and new structure to support the AESA radar.
No one is setting up a new production
line for the 737.

[PR19_Kit]

Rather oddly it seems the three RAF E-7 Wedgetails will use way out of sequence serial nos. namely, WT001,****2 and ****3.

Those serials come from the 1950s, when the RAF were buying Canberra B2s like they were going out of style, but their serials started at WT13. This is bad news for us Whiffers as we're well used to using batches of unused serials for our models, and if the RAF are going to backtrack and start using them too, we're screwed! 

[George the Cat]

Just be thankful that serial history for the Meteor PR19 isn't so complicated.

[Accidental Loggie]

Rather oddly it seems the three RAF E-7 Wedgetails will use way out of sequence serial nos. namely, WT001,****2 and ****3.

I don't think that we should be too worried, Kit: although I don't know who picked the WT series (AOC 2 Gp perhaps?) it's quite clear why it was picked. 

What this does provide us with, however, is a golden opportunity for us to speculate wildly on what serials future UK military air platforms might have based on their names when they're announced  . 

[PR19_Kit]

What this does provide us with, however, is a golden opportunity for us to speculate wildly on what serials future UK military air platforms might have based on their names when they're announced  . 

Yeah, the new Tempests with TP serials?

[McColm]

The first two prototypes of the Boeing E-7A will be modified in the UK using the latest parts from the newest Boeing 737s,then flown back to the USA for finishing before entering service with the USAF.

[jcf]

The first two prototypes of the Boeing E-7A will be modified in the UK using the latest parts from the newest Boeing 737s,then flown back to the USA for finishing before entering service with the USAF.

They're doing the structural conversion work on two existing 737 that had been in commercial service rather than green airframes right off the production line. Calling them "prototypes" is a stretch.
🙄
Interestingly enough when the RAF had originally contracted for five E-7A, the first two were going to be conversions
of airframes that had been in commercial service with the rest of them to be conversions of green airframes. All of the conversions to be done in the UK. Hmm, why does that sound so familiar?

🧐

BTW I spent a year commuting from Everett, Wa down to Kent while working in electrical design on Wedgetail.