Funding for the U.S. Air Force’s new E-7 Wedgetail radar jet has been secured in a bipartisan agreement reached on Sunday evening to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The agreement includes nearly $200 million earmarked for “continued rapid prototyping activities” to maintain the program’s schedule and facilitate its transition to production.
While the agreement spans 31 pages and funds the government through January 30, 2024, it comes at a time when the military is considering cuts to the E-7 program. Funding for the early warning and control aircraft has also appeared in earlier versions of the National Defense Authorization Act and the Defense Appropriations Act this summer. This support has persisted despite ongoing criticism regarding the program’s viability.
Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine and chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, expressed her support for the legislation. “I look forward to voting for this legislation and ending the unnecessary harm to the security of our families and our nation,” she stated.
Despite procedural hurdles that remain before finalizing the agreement, including the approval of both the Senate and House, the inclusion of the E-7 in the continuing resolution represents a significant victory for Boeing, the manufacturer of the Wedgetail. A spokesperson for Boeing declined to comment on the matter, while the U.S. Air Force did not respond to requests for further information.
The decision to allocate funds for the radar plane during the 41-day government shutdown contrasts sharply with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s previous remarks criticizing the E-7’s survivability. The Air Force’s budget proposal for 2026 had also suggested cutting funding for the program. This shift in support raises questions about the military’s strategic priorities, particularly as officials have indicated a focus on space-based capabilities for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
Todd Harrison, a defense budget expert with the American Enterprise Institute, noted that the inclusion of the E-7 reflects Congress’s concerns regarding the rapid deployment of the Space Force’s Airborne Moving-Target Indication (AMTI) systems. “If it passes, this is a big win for Boeing, and it shows that many in Congress still have doubts about how quickly the Space Force can deploy the AMTI system it funded in the reconciliation bill a few months ago,” he commented.
Hegseth previously described the E-7 as a platform that lacks survivability in modern battlefields. Moreover, defense officials have cited “significant delays” and cost increases as reasons for potential cuts. The E-7 was intended to replace the aging E-3 Sentry aircraft, with an agreement reached last year for two test planes to be delivered by 2028 at an estimated cost of $2.6 billion. According to a June report by the Government Accountability Office, costs for the program have surged by $884 million, reflecting a 33 percent increase.
In a related development, the British government announced plans to construct the two E-7 prototypes in the United Kingdom, showcasing international collaboration on defense initiatives. This ongoing support for the E-7 program underscores the complexities and evolving priorities within U.S. defense strategy as Congress navigates the intricacies of budget approvals amidst shifting military needs.
