Two 737 Passenger Jets Will Be Converted into E-7A Wedgetail Prototypes in the UK

In an attempt to save the aircraft from proposed budget cuts, Congress has turned to the UK for the conversion of two passenger jets into advanced E-7A Wedgetail prototypes. The deal marks the first time in more than 50 years that US military aircraft work will be performed on British soil.

The Wedgetail, already in service with the Royal Australian Air Force and ordered by the UK, features a powerful radar and communications suite able to track aircraft and missiles more than 300 miles away. It also functions as an airborne command post, giving commanders a real-time view of the battlespace. The US Air Force is ready to go all-in, touting the E-7 as faster to deploy, more reliable, and far more capable than the Cold War-era E-3s that are approaching the boneyard.

Its spot on the Air Force wish list hasn’t kept the program from trouble. President Trump’s fiscal 2026 budget request recommended canceling future procurement due to cost overruns, schedule delays, and doubts about the platform’s survivability against modern threats. The Pentagon followed up in June by supporting termination of the program, leaving the Air Force without a replacement for its fleet of nearly 40 AWACS.

The new UK deal is seen by some as a partial reversal, though Air Force officials deny any change of plans. A service spokesman described the Birmingham conversions as a “pre-planned modification” that benefits both sides, insisting the program is heading for the chopping block.

The Pentagon has floated alternatives, including space-based sensors and greater reliance on the Navy’s E-2D Hawkeye fleet, but neither offers the same coverage as the Wedgetail. Congress remains skeptical, especially with China and Russia expanding advanced air defenses that make airborne surveillance more necessary than ever.

FMI: www.af.mil