The Air Force is officially recommending the cancellation of the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail program in its new FY26 budget request, arguing that the aircraft cannot survive in contested airspace against a peer opponent.
This decision was revealed during the fiscal 2026 budget rollout and was not a surprise, given that the Trump administration had already signaled its opposition to the program. Instead of using a dedicated aircraft platform that covers a combat theater, the Pentagon plans to rely on a future space-based system to spot and target enemy aircraft and ground targets and manage the battlespace.
The cancellation comes despite a $2.6 billion deal inked last year between the Air Force and Boeing for the first two Wedgetail prototypes, with an initial delivery set for fiscal year 2028. The Air Force had originally intended to procure a total of 26 Wedgetails to replace its aging E-3 AWACS fleet.
The move to a space-based system will require new investment and research. Delays are likely, and the USAF’s fleet of E-3s is likely to remain in service indefinitely as the service waits on the new technology to arrive.
A lifelong aviation enthusiast, Douglas Royce is currently co-editor of four of Forecast International's Market Intelligence Services: Civil Aircraft Forecast, Military Aircraft Forecast, Rotorcraft Forecast, and Aviation Gas Turbine Forecast. As such, he plays a key role in many important projects that involve market sizing and forecasting for various segments of the world aerospace industry, as well as demand for related systems.
