E-7 Wedgetail Radar Jet Program Cancellation Reversal Advances In Congress
Lawmakers are pushing back on Pentagon plans to buy E-2 Hawkeyes instead of E-7s, as the Air Force looks to push more capabilities into space.
Joseph Trevithick
Published Dec 8, 2025 8:46 PM EST
Congress has taken a new step toward blocking the Pentagon from axing the acquisition of new E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft.
Congress has taken a new step toward blocking the Pentagon from axing the acquisition of new E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft. The latest draft of the annual defense policy bill also includes language that would compel the U.S. Air Force to keep all 16 of its remaining E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) jets in service until a sufficient number of Wedgetails are delivered or other conditions are met. Earlier this year, the Pentagon had laid out a plan to purchase more of the Navy’s E-2D Hawkeyes instead of E-7s to fill interim capability gaps left by the retirement of the E-3 until the Air Force can push most, if not all, airborne target warning sensor layer tasks into space.
The House Armed Services Committee released a new draft of the defense policy bill, or National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), for the 2026 Fiscal Year late yesterday. The draft NDAA is described as a “compromise” bill that follows significant negotiations between the House and the Senate to bring their respective versions of the legislation into alignment.
“None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended— (1) to terminate the mid-tier acquisition rapid prototype contract for the E-7A aircraft; or (2) to terminate the operations of, or to prepare to terminate the operations of, a production line for the E-7A aircraft,” according to one provision within the draft legislation.
https://www.twz.com/air/e-7-wedgetail-radar-jet-program-cancellation-reversal-advances-in-congress
