Congress Bets on Reviving the E-7 Wedgetail to Replace E-3

Congressional aides propose diverting over $1.55B into the Air Force’s RDT&E to revive the E-7 Wedgetail as prototype development, redirecting funds from the Navy’s E-2D and Air Force procurement; the plan aims to deliver two Wedgetail prototypes and continue engineering, not immediate production, while the House restores E-2D procurement to six aircraft and requires a 2028 acquisition plan briefing for the E-7.