First flight RAF Wedgetail
On 20 September 2024, the first Wedgetail AEW1 for the Royal Air Force (RAF) performed its maiden flight from Birmingham. In total three Boeing 737NG aircraft are undergoing conversion by STS Aviation Services at Birmingham to Wedgetail AEW1 standard. This company is working on this project together with the RAF, DE&S and Boeing.
The Royal Australian Air Force, United States Air Force and Royal Air Force also engaged in an agreement toward joint inoperatibility, development, evaluation & testing, sustainment, operations, training and safety. It is expected that the NATO Joint Airborne Early Warning (AEW) force at Geilenkirchen (Germany) will also join this agreement in due course, since it has been announced that the ageing E-3A Sentry fleet will be replaced by the E-7A Wedgetail.
During its first flight, Wedgetail AEW1 WT001 was still in (mostly green) primer. After the first functional flight testing phase is completed, it is planned for the aircraft to be painted in RAF livery in the autumn of this year. In the future all three RAF aircraft will fly out of RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. It was not announced when the first aircraft is expected to be delivered.
The identity of the first Wedgetail is still unconfirmed. Initially it was believed to be c/n 66840/9103 based on ADSB reports when the aircraft was visible during pre-first flight ground testing. Following its first flight c/n 38633/3329 is now also being quoted.
The RAF aircraft will be registered as WT001, WT002 and WT003, the previous identity is still to be confirmed
Credit photo: RAF