The converted aircraft completed its first flight from Birmingham on 16 July. It was then flown to London Southend Airport, where a programme subcontractor applied the final exterior coating.
Boeing transferred the aircraft to Boscombe Down in early August after the painting work was completed. The move marks the latest step in the acceptance process before the aircraft can be handed over to the RAF.
STS Aviation Services is carrying out the conversion of all three British E-7A aircraft at its Birmingham facilities. The programme uses Boeing 737-700 airframes as the basis for the Wedgetail configuration.
WT002 is fresh out of paint.
The second E-7 #Wedgetail for the @royalairforce has its livery.
🎥: Cam, #TeamBoeing. pic.twitter.com/TlpiVglPUk
— Boeing UK (@BoeingUK) August 26, 2026
Britain agreed to source two of the three airframes from the civilian secondary market to reduce acquisition costs. The third RAF aircraft is the only one being converted from a factory-new 737-700.
The second Wedgetail, designated WT002, was delivered by Boeing as a 737-700 BBJ in July 2011. It initially operated in the manufacturer’s corporate fleet before changing owners several times.
Boeing reacquired WT002 in June 2019 and subsequently selected it for conversion into an E-7A. Birmingham has also started converting a fourth aircraft, which is intended for the U.S. Air Force and is separate from the three-aircraft RAF programme.
