As part of the program aimed at replacing the current U.S. Air Force (USAF) AEW&C E-3 Sentry aircraft with the new E-7 Wedgetail, Boeing is progressing in the construction of the first of two new prototypes intended to be acquired by the United States Air Force. This is revealed in a recent video published by the aerospace company, confirming the arrival of the first 737 airframe at its Renton, Washington, facilities to undergo modification and conversion work.
In early March 2023, Boeing officially announced the selection of the E-7 Wedgetail as the future airborne early warning and control aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, with the primary goal of replacing the aging E-3D Sentry fleet. These aircraft, due to their age, had been facing various issues with the condition of their fuselages, based on the Boeing 707, even causing the fleet to be grounded in 2023. Additionally, the initiation of the platform’s retirement process is underway, with more than ten aircraft already being retired and sent to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) in Arizona for storage.
However, the modifications and requirements outlined by the USAF, including the installation of various satellite communications, navigation, and cybersecurity systems, caused differences with the manufacturer, prompting the need for new negotiations. The original 2023 contract, valued at $1.2 billion, set the plan to build two quick prototypes for evaluation by the air force.
By August of the same year, the USAF and Boeing indicated that a new agreement had been reached, with a revised value of $2.56 billion for the first two prototypes, also covering support for the aircraft’s lifecycle, training, and service support.
Among the latest updates reported by the company, the arrival of the first Boeing 737-700NG airframe to its Renton, Washington, facilities for modification and equipment installation to convert it into an E-7 Wedgetail was confirmed. However, in the released video, no further details were provided to specify a detailed date for the aircraft’s completion and presentation. Once delivered, the aircraft will undergo testing and evaluation by the U.S. Air Force.
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