The U.S. Air Force plans to cancel its procurement of the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail early warning and control aircraft.
Speaking at a briefing on the Defense Department’s proposed 2026 budget, senior military officials cited the E-7’s increasing cost—from $588 million to $724 million per aircraft—and vulnerability to air defense systems used by U.S. adversaries.
As an early warning aircraft, the E-7 was designed to detect enemy airplanes, ships, vehicles, and long-range missiles. It also has surveillance and command and control capabilities, allowing it to serve as a command center during aerial engagements. It was scheduled to enter service with the Air Force in 2027.
The Pentagon now plans to use Grumman E-2D Hawkeyes and satellite-based early warning and command systems to fill the role the E-7 would have served.
The E-7, which is based on the Boeing 737 Next Generation commercial jet, was first designed for the Royal Australian Air Force and is currently used by Australia, South Korea, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. U.S. officials signed a deal with Boeing for 26 E-7s in 2022, and the Pentagon initially planned to use them to retire the aging E-3 Sentry, citing the former’s increased detection range.
Earlier this month, however, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled that the program was likely in danger at a House appropriations hearing.
“If we have systems and platforms that are not survivable in the modern battlefield or they don’t give us an advantage in a future fight, we have to make the tough decisions right now,” Hegseth said. “The E-7 is an example of that.”
He later told Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) that the E-7 “was sort of late, more expensive, and ‘gold-plated.’”
Fleet Overhaul
The Donald Trump administration has prioritized the phaseout of military aircraft it considers antiquated. That includes the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt, nicknamed the “Warthog,” which the Air Force has been planning to retire for years in the face of strong pushback from Congress and some elements of the military, including the U.S. Army.
Military officials confirmed that, as part of the 2026 budget, all 162 remaining A-10s will be retired by 2026. News of the retirement began circulating early last week, before the spending plan was made public.
The Pentagon also said it will reduce its procurement of the Lockheed Martin F-35 from 74 to 47. Senior officials said the money that would have been spent on buying new F-35s will go toward maintaining the current F-35 fleet and strengthening its supply base.
Congress has the final say on all military spending, and it is possible the proposed budget could undergo substantial revisions before being passed into law. A number of senators and representatives, including those who represent states and districts with air defense bases, have voiced concerns about scrapping the E-7 before an adequate alternative has been put in place.
