Written Question·Ministry of Defence·UIN 67825

Boeing E-7

Tabled: 15 July 2025
Answered: 21 July 2025
Named Day

Question

Mr Mark Francois

ConservativeRayleigh and Wickford

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason the second Royal Air Force E-7 Wedgetail airframe (WT002) did not conduct test flights during the period when WT001 was grounded.

Answer

Maria Eagle
The three aircraft arrived at the modification facility at STS Aviation Services in Birmingham between January 2021 and October 2022. Given their staggered arrival, the aircraft modification programmes are at varying degrees of completion.