Which Boeing Jetliners Have Military Variants?

Many commercial aircraft also have variants developed for military use. This makes sense strategically and economically – the clean-sheet development of a new aircraft is extremely expensive. With modifications to support different uses, many aircraft can be easily adapted.

Boeing, of course, has a long history of aircraft development for both military and civilian use. It comes as no surprise then that many of Boeing’s main commercial jetliners also have military variants available. We look here at some of the main ones – both past and present.

The Boeing 707 and the E-3 Sentry

Going back to Boeing’s earliest jet days, the Boeing 707 was one of the first commercial jets available (the de Havilland Comet is rightly credited as the first, but the Boeing 707 was perhaps the first truly successful jet.

This was developed into a military offering with the E-3 Sentry airborne early warning and control system. There are several modifications from the standard Boeing 707 – including the distinctive radar dome, updated hydraulics, and in-air refueling capability.

It was also developed into the E-6 for use by the US Navy, and the E-8 by Northtrop Grumman, with further specialized radar and communications equipment. The E-3 has been a popular aircraft, with 68 delivered by Boeing up to 1992 (staying in production much longer than the 707). It has been used by the US Air Force, UK RAF, NATO, and the Royal Saudi Air Force.

The Boeing 727 and the Boeing C-22

The Boeing 727 trijet was introduced in 1964, to address the need for shorter flights and operation from smaller airports. It was a very successful development for Boeing, with over 1,800 aircraft delivered.

Read more: Why Boeing Built The 727

Many Boeing 727 aircraft have been used as transport aircraft by government and military operators. The only specific military variant developed was the C-22, with only a few aircraft used by the US Air Force.

The Boeing 737 with several military variants

The Boeing 737 has been in service since 1967 and has gone through many adaptions and upgrades since then. There have been 22 passenger variants developed from the original Boeing 737-100 up to the Boeing MAX Series.

Military variants throughout this long development have included:

• T-43. This was the first military variant in the 737 family. The T-43 is an adapted version of the Boeing 737-200, designed to train military navigators. Modifications included eyebrow windows in the cockpit to be used for sextant navigation.
• C-40. This is a military version of the Next Generation Series Boeing 737-700, adapted to take both passengers and cargo. It also has a strengthened landing gear and auxiliary fuel tanks. It is used by the US Air Force and Navy (with the Clipper designation).

• P-8 Poseidon. This variant was developed from Boeing 737-700 specifically for the US Navy. This is a specialized maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. It can carry armaments, including anti-ship missiles. The P-8 (and the upgraded P-8A) remains in production, with over 170 aircraft delivered to several air force and naval operators, including the US Navy and the UK RAF.

The Boeing 747 and the VC-25

We couldn’t discuss military Boeing variants without mentioning perhaps the most well-known of them all, the VC-25 modified 747s used by US military as ‘Air Force One’ (designated when carrying the US President). These are heavily modified Boeing 747-400 aircraft, in use since 1990.

Photo: 1000 Words | Shutterstock

The two VC-25 aircraft are currently being replaced by a further military modification, this time of the Boeing 747-8. The VC-25B program is underway, but well delayed and over budget.

The Boeing 767 and the KC-46 Pegasus

The Boeing 767 widebody jet has seen a few military-modified variants. The E-767 was an airborne warning and control modified variant (essentially using E-3 equipment) produced only for the Japanese military. And the KC-767 was an early tanker development, with just eight aircraft delivered. The KC-46 Pegasus is the most well-known development.

The KC-46 Pegasus is a tanker and transport aircraft developed for the US Air Force since 2013, after it was selected as a replacement for the KC-135 (based on the Boeing 767).

This has been a quick look at the main different military developments of Boeing’s mainstream commercial jets. Feel free to discuss these or others further in the comments section below.