Boeing's growing RAF Wedgetail industry team

摘要

LEONARDO, STS Aviation Services and Thales have been selected by Boeing to join a UK-based industry team that will deliver five E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft to the RAF. Boeing - the prime contractor in the UK's Wedgetail procurement programme - announced the expansion of the industry team on May 20. The platform, which will be designated Wedgetail AEW1 in RAF service, will operate from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire from 2023 replacing the Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW1 after its retirement in December 2022. STS Aviation Services will undertake the work at its Birmingham Airport facility in the West Midlands converting five Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) commercial airliners into what Boeing calls a "modern airborne battle management fleet" The contract will provide more than 100 highly skilled jobs at both companies. According to Boeing, the first two 737NGs have been stripped of their frames and will arrive in the UK for conversion later this year.