US Air Force asks for additional $633m to speed up deliveries of E-7 Wedgetail aircraft to replace iconic E-3 Sentry

The US Air Force wants to speed up deliveries of the E-7 Wedgetail long-range radar detection aircraft. They will be a replacement for the E-3 Sentry.

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The US Air Force has requested $2.5bn in funding from Congress for one of its fiscal year 2024 missions, an amount that includes $633m to accelerate deliveries of Boeing's long-range radar detection aircraft.

In late winter, the services awarded Boeing a $1.2bn contract to produce the first E-7 Wedgetail aircraft. By 2032 the US Air Force will have 26 aircraft in service at once, which will be based on the Boeing 737-700 airliner.

The first of two E-7s will be delivered in fiscal year 2027. Two years before that the service will have to make a final decision on the purchase of the remaining 24 units. At the same time, 31 E-3 Sentry aircraft will be retired.

An additional $633 million will allow the agency to buy parts to assemble the first two E-7 Wedgetail in advance. For example, the MESA multifunctional radar with an active phased array antennae manufactured by Northrop Grumman. This is the same fin that is mounted on top. In addition, the extra funding will enable the purchase of a Boeing 737-700 aircraft for modification into the E-7.

Source: Defence News