The aircraft type was launched as the 7X7 program on 14 July 1978 and rolled off the assembly line on 4 August 1981, later achieving its maiden flight on 26 September.

Starting in 1984, Boeing converted the aircraft to an Airborne Surveillance Testbed for a United States Army program.

The aircraft also introduced improved avionics systems, more fuel-efficient engines, and a new wing design with greater sweepback, specifically optimized for high-altitude performance and efficiency.

[citation needed] The type was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 30 July 1982, and entered service with United Airlines later that year.

[1] Between 1984 and 1987, Boeing converted the aircraft to an Airborne Surveillance Testbed for a United States Army program intended to collect data on ICBM tests.