The Royal Air Force (RAF) has officially named its new E-7 Wedgetail building at RAF Lossiemouth as the Aden Wing, supporting the airborne early warning and control aircraft.
The Aden Wing, built by Northern Ireland-based construction company McLaughlin & Harvey, will serve as a dedicated hub for operations and training related to the Boeing E-7 aircraft.
It features Indra’s E-7 Wedgetail Operational Flight Trainer, which is currently training the first aircrew ahead of the aircraft entering service with 8 Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth.
The flight simulator has expanded staffing roles: six technician jobs for operation and maintenance, additional support staff, and two pilot instructors. It has also strengthened the existing apprentice program to develop future technicians.
E-7 Wedgetail
The UK initially ordered five E-7s in 2019 as a replacement for the decommissioned E-3D Sentry, but reduced the order to three aircraft in 2021 to save costs.
Boeing conducted the aircraft’s first flight at Birmingham Airport, England, in 2024. Built on the Boeing 737-NG platform, the three-aircraft fleet is undergoing modification at STS Aviation Services in Birmingham.
The E-7 is equipped with a multi-role electronically scanned array sensor, providing 360-degree coverage to simultaneously locate and track multiple airborne and maritime targets while coordinating assets, such as fighter jets, bomber aircraft, and warships.
Measuring 33.6 meters (110 feet) long and 12.5 meters (41 feet) high with a wingspan of 35.8 meters (117 feet), the Wedgetail can carry two pilots and up to 10 mission personnel.
It is powered by two turbofans for a maximum speed of 460 knots (852 kilometers/529 miles per hour), and can reach a maximum altitude of 41,000 feet (12,496 meters).
