Originally Posted by
El Bunto
From a pedantic spotter PoV the "E-7" marketing name is annoying. The next in the official MDS sequence is actually E-12, but no US service has applied for that since none use this derivative.
Boeing should really have known that since the original E-7 was a 707 derivative, later redesignated EC-18B.
The E-7 designation for Wedgetail was nothing to do with Boeing, but came about from ideas and research within 2SQN RAAF. The original E-7 aircraft was a one-off experimental aircraft that never went into operational service, and hence, E-7 seemed a good choice. Approval was sought and gained from the US to use the designation officially, but by the time that approval was granted, we had bought 2000 Squadron Prints with the E-7A designation on it, and the name was in common use!
Y_G
