The White House has proposed cutting U.S. Navy E-2D purchases to fund the U.S. Air Force's E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft program. The move comes after the Pentagon and the Air Force initially attempted to cancel the E-7 program, only to reverse course following Operation Epic Fury.
The House Appropriations Committee has pushed back on the plan to cut E-2D purchases, citing the operational necessity of the E-2D platform and the need for more aircraft to support warfighters.
The E-7 program has been plagued by delays and cost overruns, but the Air Force sees it as a critical replacement for the retiring E-3 Sentry. The committee's report highlights the importance of airborne early warning and control capacity, particularly in the face of growing drone and cruise missile threats.
