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Air Force Advances E-7A Wedgetail With $2.43 Billion Boeing Awards

The actions implement congressional direction to move the program into engineering and manufacturing development.

Overview

  • The Air Force issued a $2.34 billion option exercise for the Rapid Prototype Airborne Mission Segment and a $99.3 million radar modification, raising the program’s cumulative value to about $5.01 billion.
  • The service will acquire developmental aircraft for the EMD phase but did not disclose the quantity, and no production decision has been made.
  • Work will be performed primarily in Seattle with additional efforts in Oklahoma City, Huntsville, and Heath, with performance expected through August 10, 2032, under AFLCMC oversight at Hanscom AFB.
  • The awards obligate $31 million in fiscal 2026 RDT&E funds on the larger modification and $4 million on the radar action at the time of award.
  • The 737-based E-7A uses the MESA radar for wide-area surveillance and battle management and is being pursued as a modern successor to the aging E-3 Sentry.