A Boeing E-7A Wedgetail landing at Newcastle airport in New South Wales, Australia [Shutterstock]
Key Takeaways:
The U.S. Air Force plans to cancel its procurement of the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail early warning aircraft due to increasing costs and vulnerability to modern air defense systems.
Officials cited the E-7's rising cost and susceptibility in modern combat, opting instead to use Grumman E-2D Hawkeyes and satellite-based systems to fill its intended role.
This cancellation is part of a broader Pentagon fleet overhaul, which also includes the retirement of all A-10 Thunderbolts by 2026 and a reduction in F-35 fighter jet procurement.
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.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
