The Boeing E-7 Wedgetail, also marketed as the Boeing 737 AEW&C, is a twin-engine airborne early warning and control aircraft originally designed for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Based on the Boeing 737 Next Generation design, it has a fixed active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar antenna instead of a rotating one as with the 707-based Boeing E-3 Sentry. The E-7 was designed for the RAAF under "Project Wedgetail" and designated E-7A Wedgetail.
The 737 AEW&C has also been selected by the Turkish Air Force (under "Project Peace Eagle", Turkish: Barış Kartalı, designated E-7T), the Republic of Korea Air Force ("Project Peace Eye", ), and the United Kingdom (designated Wedgetail AEW Mk1).
The United States Air Force (USAF) had previously announced that the E-7 would replace the E-3 starting from 2027, but in June 2025 the Defense Department announced that they planned to cancel the purchase in favor of space-based solutions, including the proposed Golden Dome, and the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. In the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2026 passed by the US Congress in November 2025, additional funding was allocated to keep E-7 development on track.
Design and development
As early as 1986, the Australian Department of Defence evaluated industry proposals for airborne surveillance and early warning systems. In 1994, further studies led to the approval of the first phase of Project AIR 5077. In 1996, Australia issued a request for proposal (RFP) for the aircraft for the RAAF under Project Wedgetail, which refers to the indigenous eagle."AIR 5077 – Project Wedgetail" . Defence Materiel Organisation In 1999, Australia awarded Boeing Integrated Defense Systems a contract to supply four AEW&C aircraft with options for three additional aircraft.
The 737 AEW&C is roughly similar to the 737-700ER. It uses the Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar. The electronically scanned AEW and surveillance radar is located on a dorsal fin on top of the fuselage, dubbed the "top hat", and is designed for minimal aerodynamic effect. The radar is capable of simultaneous air and sea search, fighter control and area search, with a maximum range of over (look-up mode). The MESA radar is fixed, unlike the hydraulically rotated AN/APY-1/2 of the E-3 Sentry, which the 737 AEW&C is set to replace. Despite this, the radar is still able to offer 360-degree azimuth scan using two broadside (side-emitting) electronic manifold arrays, each covering a 120° sector to starboard and port, and an end-fire array housed within the top hat that covers a 60° front and aft of the aircraft.
The radar antenna array also serves as an ELINT array, with a maximum range of over at altitude. Radar signal processing equipment and a central computer are installed directly below the antenna array.
Other modifications include ventral fins to counterbalance the radar and countermeasures mounted on the nose, wingtips and tail. Inflight refueling is via a receptacle on top of the forward fuselage. The cabin has eight operator consoles with sufficient space for four more. The Australian fleet will operate ten consoles with space for two more, four on the starboard side and six on the port side.
Operational history Australia
Australia ordered four AEW&C aircraft with options for three additional aircraft, two of which have since been taken up. The first two Wedgetails were assembled, modified and tested in Seattle, Washington, while the remainder were modified by Boeing Australia, with deliveries once set to begin in 2006. Boeing and Northrop teamed with Boeing Australia, and BAE Systems Australia. Boeing Australia provides training, maintenance and support, BAE provides EWSP systems, Electronic Support Measures (ESM) systems and ground support systems.
In June 2006, the Australian Minister for Defence, Brendan Nelson, stated that the Wedgetail was delayed despite Boeing's prior assurance that work was on schedule.Nelson, Brendan "Wedgetail Project" . Australian Minister for Defence press release. Boeing announced an 18-month delay due to problems integrating radar and sensor systems, and did not expect delivery until early 2009. Boeing incurred $770 million (~$ in ) in charges over the delay in 2006."Radar down under Australia grapples with the Wedgetail AEW&C program". C4ISR Journal, 4 May 2007. In June 2008, Boeing announced a further delay due to integration issues with the radar and ESM systems."Minister Tours Wedgetail Facility at BAE Systems Australia" . Australian DoD press release.
In November 2009, Boeing delivered the first two 737 AEW&Cs to the RAAF."Boeing Delivers 2 Wedgetail AEW&C Aircraft to Royal Australian Air Force" . Boeing, 26 November 2009. These aircraft remained Boeing owned and operated prior to the RAAF's formal acceptance in May 2010."Boeing Wedgetail Aircraft Accepted Into Royal Australian Air Force Fleet" . Boeing, 5 May 2010. The RAAF accepted its sixth and last 737 AEW&C in June 2012.Waldron, Greg. "RAAF receives final Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft" . Flight International, 5 June 2012. All RAAF Wedgetails are operated by No. 2 Squadron RAAF and based at RAAF Base Williamtown. In November 2012, the Wedgetail achieved Initial Operational Capability."Wedgetail AEW&C Aircraft has achieved IPC" . airforceworld.com
On 1 April 2014, the Wedgetail's first operational sortie occurred in the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, helping control maritime patrol aircraft off Western Australia's coast. On 1 October 2014, a Wedgetail conducted the first Australian sortie over Iraq supporting coalition forces conducting airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIL). In May 2015, the Wedgetail fleet achieved final operational capability (FOC)."RAAF's E-7A Wedgetails achieve FOC" – Flightglobal.com, 26 May 2015
In November 2015, the Wedgetail performed the longest Australian command and control mission in a war zone during a 17-hour, 6-minute combat mission, requiring two air-to-air refuelings to stay aloft."Wedgetail sets mission duration record" – Aviation Australia, 12 November 2015 Australian Wedgetail crews routinely perform 13-hour missions."Wedgetail Endurance Mission" – Airforce.gov.au, 13 January 2015 In early April 2016, Rotation 5 of aircrew and maintenance personnel that had been operating the RAAF Wedgetail in the Middle East, achieved a record 100 percent mission success rate in Coalition operations against ISIS. The E-7A successfully conducted all 36 missions, each lasting upwards of 12 hours, amounting to nearly 500 hours of flying for the one aircraft."Air Task Group Wedgetail Achieves 100% Mission Success Rate in the Middle East" . Defence.gov.au, 8 April 2016 The final Wedgetail rotation to the Middle East ended in early 2019.
In October 2023, an Australian Wedgetail was deployed to Europe to contribute to international efforts to protect the flow of supplies to Ukraine following the Russian invasion of the country. The deployment was scheduled to last for six months. The Wedgetail returned to Australia in early April 2024. A second RAAF Wedgetail deployment to Europe began in August 2025.
The Australian Government's 2024 Integrated Investment Program included a commitment to allocate $A5 billion to $A7 billion to replace the Wedgetail fleet between the 2024–25 and 2033–34 financial years.
On 10 March 2026, the Australian government announced that an E-7A Wedgetail aircraft and 85 supporting personnel would be deployed to the United Arab Emirates as part of the Australian involvement in the 2026 Iran war. The Wedgetail will likely operate from the Al Minhad Air Base.
Turkey
Four Boeing 737 AEW&C Peace Eagle aircraft along with ground support systems were ordered by the Turkish Air Force, with an option for two more. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is the Peace Eagle's primary subcontractor, performing parts production, testing, aircraft assembly and conversion. Another Turkish subcontractor, HAVELSAN, is responsible for ground support elements, system analysis and software support.Peace Eagle (PE) – Turkish Airborne Early Warning & Control System , Havelsan. HAVELSAN is the only foreign company licensed by the U.S. government to receive critical source codes."Team World" . Boeing Frontier's magazine, August 2007. Peace Eagle 1 was modified and tested by Boeing in the US. Peace Eagle 2, 3 and 4 were modified and tested at TAI's facilities in Ankara, Turkey, in partnership with Boeing and several Turkish companies. In 2006, the four Peace Eagles were scheduled to be delivered in 2008."Boeing Installs MESA Antenna on First Peace Eagle Aircraft" . Boeing, 2 March 2006.
In September 2007, Boeing completed the first Peace Eagle test flight."Boeing Successfully Completes First Test Flight of AEW&C Peace Eagle Aircraft" , Boeing, 6 September 2007. In June 2008, it was announced that Peace Eagle 2, the second 737 AEW&C, had completed modifications. Flight and mission system checks were completed in the third quarter of 2008."Boeing Supplier Turkish Aerospace Industries Completes 1st In-Country Modification of Peace Eagle AEW&C Aircraft" . Boeing, 4 June 2008. In 2013, Israel delivered EW equipment for the Peace Eagle under US pressure."Israel sends Turks EW systems despite rift." spacedaily.com On 21 February 2014, the first Peace Eagle, named Kuzey (meaning North), was formally accepted by the Turkish Air Force."TSK yeni yıldızı Barış Kartalı'na kavuştu" . Hürriyet, 21 February 2014."First Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft of the Peace Eagle Project, Kuzey (North) was taken into inventory" . Turkish Air Force The remaining three aircraft are named Güney (South), Doğu (East) and Batı (West). The fourth and final Peace Eagle was delivered in December 2015."Boeing Delivers Last AEW&C Aircraft to Turkey". Defense News, 9 December 2015.
In IDEF 2023 was a signed project contract, for the modernization of the E-7 Peace Eagle aircraft in the inventory of Turkish Air Force to meet the current operational needs of Air Force and to eliminate the obsolescence in the software. Within the scope of modernization, the aircraft will be equipped with IFF Mode 5 Responder, Karetta CRPA Antenna, Mission Computer Hardware developed by Aselsan.
South Korea
In November 2006, Boeing won a $1.6 billion contract with South Korea to deliver four aircraft by 2012."South Korea picks Boeing for surveillance planes ." Reuters. 8 November 2006. Boeing beat the other entrant, IAI Elta's Gulfstream G550-based aircraft, which was eliminated from the competition in August 2006."S. Korea drops IAI, keeps Boeing in $2 bln plane deal." Reuters. 3 August 2006. The first Peace Eye aircraft was delivered to Gimhae Air Base, Busan for acceptance testing in August 2011 with the remaining three aircraft delivered every six months until 2012. The second aircraft was modified into an AEW&C configuration by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), then delivered to Gimhae Air Base in December 2011."Boeing Delivers 2nd Peace Eye AEW&C Aircraft to Republic of Korea Air Force, Boeing Defense" . Boeing, 13 December 2011. After receiving AEW&C modifications by KAI, the third aircraft was delivered in May 2012 to Gimhae Air Base. The fourth aircraft was delivered in October 2012.Gary Parsons, Gary. "Boeing Delivers Final Peace Eye to Korea" . Key Publishing via key.aero, 31 October 2012.
In October 2019, the South Korean newspaper Munwha reported that the four E-7 aircraft had suffered from frequent breakdowns from 2013 to 2019, incurring costs of 350 billion Korean won, comparable to the 400 billion Korean won each aircraft cost to procure. The fleet availability between 2015 and 2019 was 63-73%, below the 75% target operating rate.
In 2023, South Korea initiated a competitive program to acquire four additional AEW&C aircraft. The Boeing E-7, Saab Global Eye, and a L3Harris Gulfstream-based variant competed for the contract, with the L3Harris/ELTA bid winning in 2025.