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Boeing E-7

Asked by Mr Mark FrancoisConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 21 July 2025UIN 67824

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what were the reasons for the nine-month gap between the first flight of the Royal Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail (WT001) in September 2024 and its subsequent test flight.

Answered by Maria Eagle

Between delivery to STS Aviation and its first flight in September 2024 the aircraft has undergone significant structural modification to support the Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar and mission systems. Since concluding previous flights in autumn 2024, the aircraft progressed into mission system installation as part of the build schedule.

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