Boeing 737 AEW&C

Royal Australian Air Force Wedgetail

Australia ordered four AEW&C aircraft with options for three additional aircraft. Australia has since taken up two of those options. Aircraft deliveries were to begin in 2006, but significant program delays due to integration problems have occurred. The first two Wedgetail aircraft were assembled, modified and tested in Seattle, Washington. The remaining aircraft were modified by Boeing Australia.[8] Boeing and Northrop are teamed with Boeing Australia, and BAE Systems Australia. Boeing Australia will provide training, maintenance and support, BAE provides EWSP systems, Electronic Support Measures (ESM) systems and ground support systems.[9]

On 29 June 2006, the Australian Minister for Defence, Brendan Nelson, announced that Boeing had informed the Australian Government that the Wedgetail project had fallen behind schedule despite a previous assurance that the project was on schedule.[10] Boeing announced an 18-month delay, due to problems integrating radar and sensor computer systems, and was not expected to deliver the aircraft until early 2009. Additionally, Boeing took $770 million in charges in 2006 for the delayed aircraft.[11] On 20 June 2008 Boeing announced a further delay to the program, due primarily to integration of the radar and Electronic Support Measure (ESM) systems.[12]

On 26 November 2009, Boeing delivered the first two 737 AEW&C aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).[13] Initially these aircraft remained Boeing owned and operated, then on 5 May 2010 the RAAF formally accepted these aircraft into service.[14] The RAAF accepted its sixth and last 737 AEW&C aircraft on 5 June 2012.[15] All Australian aircraft are to be operated by No. 2 Squadron RAAF and will be based at RAAF Base Williamtown with a permanent detachment at RAAF Base Tindal. In November 2012, Wedgetail aircraft achieved Initial Operational Capability.[16]

On 1 April 2014, the first operational sortie occurred with the air control of maritime patrol aircraft taking part in the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 off the coast of Western Australia.[17] On 1 October 2014, a Wedgetail conducted the first Australian sortie over Iraq supporting coalition forces conducting airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).[18] In November 2015, the Australian E-7A 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.[19] Australian Wedgetail crews routinely perform 13-hour missions.[20] 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.[21]

On 26 May 2015, Australia's fleet of six E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning & control (AEW&C) aircraft achieved final operational capability (FOC). This occurred after the aircraft supported search operations for MH370 and took part in Operation Okra, flying 1,200 hours during more than 100 sorties in the fight against ISIL.[22]

A Boeing 737 AEW&C of the Turkish Air Force

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 primary subcontractor for the Peace Eagle parts production, aircraft modification, assembly and tests. Another Turkish subcontractor, HAVELSAN, is responsible for system analysis and software support besides the delivery of Ground Support Segment which will be located in Konya, Turkey.[23] HAVELSAN of Turkey is also the only foreign company licensed by the U.S. Government to receive critical source codes.[24]

Peace Eagle 1 is modified and tested by the Boeing Integrated Defense Systems in Seattle, Washington, US. Peace Eagle 2, 3 and 4 are modified and tested at the facilities of TAI in Ankara, Turkey, with the participation of Boeing and a number of Turkish companies. In 2006, the four Peace Eagle aircraft were scheduled to be delivered in 2008.[25] In September 2007, Boeing completed the first test flight of Turkey's AEW&C 737.[26] On 4 June 2008, it was announced that the Turkish Aerospace Industries had completed modifications to Peace Eagle 2, the second 737 AEW&C aircraft at TAI's facilities in Turkey. Completion of checks on flight and mission systems took place in the third quarter of 2008.[27] In 2013, Israel responded to American pressure and delivered the EW equipment for the Turkish aircraft.[28]

The first Peace Eagle aircraft, named Kuzey (meaning North) was formally accepted into Turkish Air Force inventory on 21 February 2014.[29][30][31][32] The remaining three aircraft will be named Güney (South), Doğu (East) and Batı (West).[32] The fourth and final Peace Eagle aircraft was delivered in December 2015.[33]

On 7 November 2006, Boeing won a $1.6 billion contract with South Korea to deliver four aircraft by 2012.[34] Boeing beat the other entrant, IAI Elta's Gulfstream G550-based aircraft, which was eliminated from the competition in August 2006.[35] The first Peace Eye aircraft was delivered to Gimhae Air Base, Busan for acceptance testing on 1 August 2011[36] with the remaining three aircraft delivered every six months until 2012.[37] The second aircraft was modified into an AEW&C configuration by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), then delivered to Gimhae Air Base on 13 December 2011.[38] After receiving AEW&C modifications by KAI, the third aircraft was delivered on 17 May 2012 to Gimhae Air Base.[39] The fourth aircraft was delivered on 24 October 2012.[40]

In October 2018, the British Government announced that it was in discussion with Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force about the potential for the E-7 Wedgetail radar aircraft to replace its E-3D fleet.[41] The apparent decision to proceed with procurement without a competition received some criticism, with the Ministry of Defence accused of displaying favouritism towards Boeing,[42] while Saab voiced its opposition to the "non-competitive" deal as it could offer the Erieye system mounted on Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft.[43] On 22 March 2019, it was announced by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson that the UK had signed a $1.98 billion deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetails.[44]

Two of the five aircraft are to be converted commercial airliners and the rest are to be new.[45] Work on each aircraft is to take about 24 months, with the first aircraft to be modified beginning in 2021 and the last to be completed in 2026.[45] Modification of the airframes was expected to be performed by Marshall Aerospace, however it withdrew in May 2020 and Boeing selected the UK branch of STS Aviation Group on 20 May 2020.[46] As of June 2020, the first aircraft is expected to be delivered to the RAF in 2023.[47]

The aircraft is to be designated as the "Wedgetail AEW1".[48]

In 2004, the Italian Air Force was considering the purchase of a total of 14 Wedgetail and P-8 MMA aircraft, with aircraft support to be provided by Alitalia.[49]

The Boeing 737 Wedgetail was reportedly the favored competitor for the United Arab Emirates' AEW&C program in 2007.[50]

In 2014, Qatar stated it planned purchase three 737 AEW&C aircraft.[51]