Budget Shuffle Keeps E-7 Wedgetail Alive as E-2D Strain Grows

The Pentagon and Air Force moved about $1.55 billion from Air Force procurement and Navy E-2D funds into an Air Force R&D account to keep the E-7 Wedgetail program alive, reversing prior plans to cancel it and rely mainly on E-2Ds. The House Appropriations Committee supports funding the E-7 and has restored six E-2Ds for FY2027, illustrating a push for more AEW capacity rather than fewer. Final funding levels will hinge on budget negotiations with the Senate and White House; the broader context is ongoing strain on AEW fleets (E-3 retirement, E-2D load) amid ongoing operations, including Iran-related activity, which drives urgency for capable interim solutions.