The USAF has announced it is buying 26 E-7A Wedgetails to replace the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System in a contract with Boeing worth US$1.2 billion.
The Department of the Air Force (DAF) awarded Boeing a contract to begin work on the E-7A weapon system on Tuesday.
"The E-7A will provide advanced Airborne Moving Target Indication and Battle Management, Command and Control capabilities, and advanced Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array radar that enhances airborne battle management and enables long-range kill chains with potential peer adversaries," the USAF said in a statement.
In 2022, the DAF selected the E-7A to replace the E-3 AWACS and established an E-7A Program Management Office. The DAF is using the rapid prototyping acquisition pathway to acquire the first two E-7As.
"The E-7A will be the department's principal airborne sensor for detecting, identifying, tracking, and reporting all airborne activity to Joint Force commanders," said Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. "This contract award is a critical step in ensuring that the department continues delivering battlespace awareness and management capabilities to U.S. warfighters, allies and partners for the next several decades.
"The E-7A will enable greater airborne battlespace awareness through its precise, real-time air picture and will be able to control and direct individual aircraft under a wide range of environmental and operational conditions."
The USAF says it plans to begin production in 2025, with the first E-7A expected to be fielded by 2027, and 24 additional E-7As fielded by 2032. The E-7A total aircraft inventory is projected to be 26.
"We conducted a thorough analysis of viable industry options to ensure the selected E-3 replacement could meet the specific needs of the U.S. Until the E-7A is fielded, we will continue to rely on the E-3 AWACS," Hunter said. "The rapid prototyping program will integrate U.S.-based mission systems into the existing airborne platform to meet DAF requirements while simultaneously ensuring interoperability with coalition and allied partners already operating the E-7A."
The E-7A Wedgetail was originally developed for Australia, and ADM understands it is one of RAAF's most highly-requested assets for global allied operations and exercises.
Operators describe the upgrade from manual to electronic beam steering as a 'game changer' in capability over the E-3. The Wedgetail is capable of flying for up to 17.3 hours, limited only by crew fatigue management.