Boeing will switch two 737-700 airframes to STS Aviation in Birmingham for E-7 conversion in 2026.
Boeing may have two rapid-prototype E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Early-Warning & Management (AEW&C) plane transformed in the UK, marking a uncommon occasion of U.S. Air Power plane work being carried out on British soil. Nonetheless, questions persist over this system’s long-term future in U.S. protection budgets.
The UK Ministry of Protection (MoD) described the association as a milestone, saying it’s going to “create greater than 150 new jobs in Birmingham and secures an extra 190 jobs throughout the UK,” and that the contract “delivers an extra over £36M to the UK economic system.” The work will use STS Aviation’s current conversion line in Birmingham – at the moment the one facility worldwide arrange for E-7 conversions – to rework Boeing 737-700 industrial airframes into Wedgetail AEW&C platforms for the U.S. Air Power.
Britain will construct army plane for the @USAirForce for the primary time because the Second World Conflict.
The Boeing contract creates 150 jobs in Birmingham, secures a whole lot extra throughout the UK, and strengthens UK-US defence ties.
Learn extra right here: pic.twitter.com/DTVKoh9ZJl
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) September 18, 2025
Boeing is at the moment producing two 737-700 “inexperienced” airframes in Renton, Washington, as a part of the fast prototyping effort for the U.S. Air Power. These airframes are to be shipped to STS for modification to E-7 configuration in 2026, leveraging the identical conversion line already engaged on Royal Air Power examples.
Industrial and Strategic Implications
For the UK, the deal is being introduced as each an financial and strategic win. The MoD framed the contract as proof of Britain’s “world-leading protection trade,” and Protection Secretary John Healey stated the settlement “creates and helps a whole lot of jobs throughout the UK – making protection an engine for development and strengthening our collective safety.” This system additionally entails greater than 40 UK-based suppliers and the development of two new engineering amenities at RAF Lossiemouth.
For Boeing and the broader Wedgetail program, utilizing the Birmingham conversion line reduces the necessity to quickly develop conversion functionality in america and makes sensible use of an already licensed facility. In actual fact, STS has already transformed one 737-700 to the E-7 configuration for the RAF and has two extra in various states of meeting, offering a prepared industrial base to help the U.S. prototypes.
Debate Over E-7 Procurement
The E-7’s path to the adoption by the U.S. Air Power nonetheless stays contested. Contained in the Pentagon there was energetic debate about whether or not future airborne moving-target-indication and wide-area surveillance roles ought to migrate to space-based methods slightly than manned AEW plane.
We beforehand reported right here at The Aviationist about inside disagreements and high-level skepticism – notably feedback from Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth – which have “solid extreme doubts” on the USAF acquisition of Wedgetails. These prompted curiosity in different ideas, together with satellite tv for pc constellations and variations of current platforms such because the E-2 Hawkeye.
Congress has intervened to maintain this system alive, no less than within the close to time period. A Republican spending patch reported by Politico included funding that might enable the Air Power to “proceed prototyping of the E-7,” whereas Home lawmakers have moved amendments and provisions supposed to dam the division from cancelling this system outright, in line with Air & House Forces Journal.
Open Questions
The UK conversion work may be thought-about a tactical win for British trade and for Boeing’s short-term manufacturing plan. The MoD emphasised how the deal “advantages each UK and US nationwide safety by strengthening the particular relationship.”
Nonetheless, the deal doesn’t resolve the core strategic debate in U.S. protection planning. Whereas the 2 E-7 fast prototypes is perhaps accomplished following this deal, the E-7 program will proceed to be formed by ongoing debate till the ultimate determination is taken about an airborne or spaceborne AEW functionality.
Not the First Time
The MoD talked about within the press launch that this might be the primary time in over 50 years that the UK builds army plane for america. Nonetheless, the assertion will not be totally appropriate, because the UK extra lately constructed the Quick C-23 Sherpa for the U.S. army.
The Quick C-23 Sherpa was a part of household of small to mid-sized twin turbo prop transport plane developed within the late twentieth century, beginning with Quick Skyvan, Quick 330, and the Quick 360. The C-23 was based mostly on the Quick 330, which was developed and constructed by Quick Brothers of Belfast, Northern Eire.
The Sherpa flew for the primary time on Dec. 23, 1982, with the primary order for 18 plane being positioned by the U.S. Air Power in March 1983. Ultimately, 60 plane could be procured by for the U.S. armed forces and serve properly into the twenty first century.
