US lawmakers have blocked the Pentagon’s attempt to cancel the US Air Force Boeing E-7 Wedgetail program, ensuring continued interim funding for the airborne early warning aircraft during recent Congressional defense budget negotiations in Washington.
This decision comes as the Department of Defense sought to terminate the E-7 effort, citing significant delays and a rise in unit cost from $588 million to $724 million. Legislators argued that maintaining manned surveillance aircraft is vital due to heightened global security threats and gaps in current capabilities, according to The Wall Strett Journal.
The E-7 Wedgetail is intended to replace the aging Boeing E-3 Sentry fleet and is built on the Boeing 737 Next Generation platform. The US Air Force awarded Boeing a $1.2 billion contract in 2023 for the aircraft’s development. The Pentagon has advocated for space-based surveillance systems to eventually reduce reliance on crewed airborne platforms. However, Congress has prioritized preserving operational readiness as adversary capabilities evolve.
Several US allies, including Australia, South Korea and the UK, have already adopted the E-7 Wedgetail. On the other hand, NATO, which had announced the selection of the E-7, canceled the plan after the US signaled that it would not proceed with the program.
News courtesy: Airdatanews
