News Release Issued: Sep 20, 2024 (3:53pm EDT)
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release online and get more information about Boeing, visit: https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2024-09-20-Boeing-Completes-First-Flight-of-UK-E-7-Wedgetail
Boeing Completes First Flight of UK E-7 Wedgetail
- UK E-7 programme marks significant milestone in the test
and evaluation phase<br></br>- More than 100 people are modifying
three 737 NGs in Birmingham, UK<br></br>- E-7 Wedgetail will
provide the RAF with advanced Airborne Early Warning & Control capabilities
Photos(3)
BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom,
Sept. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/
-- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has completed the first flight of the UK's E-7 Wedgetail
for the Royal Air Force (RAF).
A Boeing flight-test crew
conducted functional checks during the first flight from Birmingham Airport,
marking a significant milestone in the programme's test and evaluation phase.
Currently unpainted, the
aircraft is one of three 737 NG aircraft on British soil undergoing
modification by a highly skilled team of over 100 people at STS Aviation
Services in Birmingham.
"This safe and
systematic Functional Check Flight is an important step for Boeing and the RAF
as part of our rigorous and extensive testing and evaluation," said Stu
Voboril, Boeing vice president and E-7 program manager. "Our team is
committed to ensuring the E-7 delivers the safety, quality, and capabilities
we've promised to our customer as we prepare for delivery of the UK's first E-7
Wedgetail to the RAF."
Group Captain Richard
Osselton, RAF Programme Director for Wedgetail said, "Achieving the first
flight of Wedgetail is a significant milestone, representing an outstanding
effort from the RAF programme team, DE&S, Boeing and STS Aviation. We will
now build on this success and look forward to continuing the Test &
Evaluation phase as part of our preparations for the aircraft to enter into
service."
DE&S Director Air
Support, Richard Murray, said, "This first flight marks a significant
milestone for the programme and for our team who have worked tirelessly with
our partners to progress what is a hugely complex endeavour. We are moving
forward and will be delivering this critical capability to the RAF."
The combat-proven E-7 detects
and identifies adversarial targets at long range and tracks multiple airborne
and maritime threats simultaneously with 360-degree coverage via the Multi-role
Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) sensor. It provides the warfighter with
critical multi-domain awareness and command-and-control decision advantage.
"We're proud of the
robust E-7 modification line we've stood up in the UK to deliver the RAF's
future Airborne Early Warning & Control fleet," said Maria Laine,
president of Boeing UK, Ireland and the Nordics. "We are committed to
delivering this crucial capability to support the UK's national security and
contribute toward regional stability."
The future UK E-7 fleet will
operate from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, where Boeing's local suppliers and
contractors are nearing completion of the infrastructure facilities to support
its introduction into service.
The RAF participates in a
tri-lateral agreement with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and U.S. Air
Force (USAF) toward cooperative Wedgetail interoperability, capability development,
evaluation and testing, sustainment, operations, training, and safety.
The RAAF, the Republic of
Korea Air Force, and the Turkish Air Force currently operate the E-7. Boeing is
also building two rapid prototype E-7 aircraft for USAF and in 2023, NATO
announced the selection of the E-7 for its AEW&C mission. The growing
global E-7 fleet provides mission systems interoperability, mission readiness
and lifecycle cost advantages, as well as a common technical growth path to
stay ahead of global threats.
Later this autumn, following
a series of flight tests and further evaluation, the aircraft will depart to a
paint facility to receive its RAF livery.
As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures, and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. The company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability, and community impact. Boeing has a UK workforce of over 4,000 people, including career starters, veterans and reserves across the country and has spent more than £13.7bn with over 950 UK-based suppliers since 2015. For more information, visit www.boeing.co.uk or follow us on X @BoeingUK
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