The aircraft, a Boeing 737, has been converted with a special "wedgetail" fitted on it containing specialist radar equipment.
It is the first of three aircraft which have been bought by the Royal Air Force and are all being converted into special airborne "early warning planes" at Birmingham Airport.
![Spyplane - At Southend Airport]()
Spyplane - At Southend Airport (Image: Simon Murdoch) It took off from Southend returning to STS Engineering at Birmingham to be fitted out with all of the specialist aerial surveillance equipment before entering service at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.
![Takeoff - The plane headed to Birmingham]()
Takeoff - The plane headed to Birmingham (Image: Simon Murdoch) Southend aircraft spotter Simon Murdoch said: "It was a very rare sight indeed at any civil airport, so all the spotters got a treat when it arrived and took off from Southend airport after painting."
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