First Wedgetail arrives at RAF Lossiemouth

Aircraft WT001 arrives at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland to begin operational test and evaluation before being formally inducted into service later in 2026. (Crown Copyright)

The first of three Boeing E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning Mk 1 (AEW1) aircraft for the United Kingdom has arrived at the type's future homebase at Royal Air Force (RAF) Lossiemouth in Scotland.

The station announced the arrival on 21 May 2026, saying aircraft WT001 will now undertake operational test and evaluation (OT&E) duties ahead of its formal entry into service scheduled for later in 2026.

“This is a significant progression for the programme, moving the aircraft from STS Aviation at Birmingham Airport,” the statement said, adding, “Activities will commence with a period of dedicated ground-testing, followed thereafter by live flying.”

Conversion of the three 737 NG airframes into Wedgetail AEW1 platforms began in November 2020, with the aircraft being inducted into STS Aviation Services' line in Birmingham, England. This conversion process involved the mating of the Northrop Grumman Multirole Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar with the aircraft, as well as the fitting of the mission and military systems.

Set to replace the Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW1 that was retired in 2021, the Wedgetail's active electronically scanned array (AESA) MESA radar provides 360° coverage at ranges in excess of 322 km for aerial targets, and 241 km for patrol boat-sized surface contacts across an area of 4 million km² (these ranges can be significantly increased if the radar's power is focused in a particular direction rather than applied in a general sweep). The aircraft has two flight crew as well as 10 mission crew stations for air battle managers and other system operators.