Pentagon Reverses Course on Radar Aircraft After Iran Attack

The Pentagon is reversing its position on the E-7 Wedgetail radar aircraft program, which it had previously planned to cancel. The US Department of Defense is now preparing an adjustment to its fiscal year 2027 budget proposal to provide new funding for the aircraft, which are intended to replace the aging E-3 Sentry fleet.

The turning point came after Iran's attack in March on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, which destroyed one Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. The incident exposed the vulnerability of the US Air Force, which relies increasingly on aging E-3s.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged that the Pentagon's thinking has "fundamentally changed". The department, he said, has already asked the White House to provide additional funding for the E-7 program. "I think it has a future. It has a place on the battlefield", he declared.

The US Air Force currently has seven development aircraft on order from Boeing. The Wedgetail is already in service with Australia, South Korea and Turkey.

The Pentagon had originally envisioned satellite systems taking over some of the radar aircraft's roles, but these are not yet ready to replace existing capabilities.

(twz, bak)