Air Force officials explained that the E-7 had been canceled to make room financially for other programs, since future space-based solutions are planned to be available down the line.

This week, 16 retired four-star generals jointly called on Congress to reverse the Pentagon’s decision to curtail funding for the E-7 Wedgetail platform and to ramp up the number of F-35 Lightning II jets for the service. In a letter challenging the Trump administration’s plan to limit the Air Force’s Joint Strike Fighter acquisition and cancel the E-7 altogether, these defense leaders detailed how these cutbacks would hinder the service’s ability to meet the National Defense Strategy.

“On behalf of the Air and Space Forces Association’s 125,773 members, we write to express our alarm at recent proposals to reduce the next fiscal year’s procurement of F-35As to only 24 aircraft and terminate the E-7 Wedgetail program,” the retired general officers explained in the letter—addressed to the top Republican and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate. “During a period of heightened tension throughout the world, we believe such reductions will severely and unnecessarily undermine our service members’ ability to deter, and if necessary, prevail in future conflicts.”

Why Does the E-7 Wedgetail Matter to America’s Defense?

As an airborne early warning and control aircraft, the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail—also referred to as AEQ&C—is designed to provide unmatched capability when it comes to scanning the skies and communicating with surface, ground, and air assets. Initially developed for the Royal Australian Air Force, the E-7 is also flown by the Turkish Air Force, the Republic of Korea Air Force, and the Royal Air Force.

The US Air Force has made sporadic efforts to incorporate the Wedgetail into its aerial fleet for several years. In April, the service outlined several areas featured by the E-7 it would hope to replace or enhance. According to Air and Space Forces, some of these capabilities include advanced infrared sensors, Tactical Targeting Network Technology, Combat Identification, Next-generation tactical data link, and other emerging technologies. 

However, it appears that the service may not acquire any E-7s at all. US Air Force officials explained that the E-7 had been canceled to make room financially for other programs. Since future space-based solutions are planned to be available down the line, the E-7’s procurement would not be paramount.

The four-star generals objected to this characterization, noting, “The scientific and engineering hurdles to accomplish this goal are daunting, and the timeline to success is unclear. Since having a robust tracking and battle management system is fundamental to projecting airpower and winning conflicts, prudence demands we acquire sufficient numbers of E-7s to prevail whenever the next conflict unfolds.”

Congress Also Made Cuts to the F-35 Program

In addition to the E-7 cuts, the Pentagon also reduced the number of F-35s slated to be delivered over the next year by up to 50 percent in its recently released budget.

As the Air Force’s newest fifth-generation fighter platform, the Lightning II arguably defines the service’s aerial strategy. From stealth and avionics to adaptability and sensors, the F-35 is truly unparalleled in the skies. Previously, the Air Force had set a goal of acquiring 1,763 Joint Strike Fighters down the line; the recent cuts will likely hinder this goal.

About the Author: Maya Carlin

Maya Carlin is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has bylines in many publications, including The National Interest, The Jerusalem Post, and The Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.

Image: Wikimedia Commons.

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