Air Force nears Wedgetail deal with Boeing after jostle over costs

Air Force nears Wedgetail deal with Boeing after jostle over costs
Air Force nears Wedgetail deal with Boeing after jostle over costs

“We think we can substantially improve over what Boeing offered us. I would say we will not meet in the middle,” said Air Force acquisition czar Andrew Hunter.

‘Political decisions’: Saab CEO says NATO rushed E-3 replacement decision in favor of E-7 Wedgetail

‘Political decisions’: Saab CEO says NATO rushed E-3 replacement decision in favor of E-7 Wedgetail
‘Political decisions’: Saab CEO says NATO rushed E-3 replacement decision in favor of E-7 Wedgetail

“We were asked to put in our offer and then they [the NATO Support and Procurement Agency] didn’t really go into discussion with us, because they had already decided they had to go and buy Wedgetail,” Micael Johansson, CEO at Saab told Breaking Defense.

Ukraine war turns 2: Lessons learned and what comes next

Ukraine war turns 2: Lessons learned and what comes next
Ukraine war turns 2: Lessons learned and what comes next

On the two year anniversary of the war, the Breaking Defense team has assembled a series of pieces on the state of the conflict across multiple domains, what might come in year three, and what lessons the US has learned from the conflict. 

Boeing turns to drone inspections of military planes, still negotiating Wedgetail price with US

Boeing turns to drone inspections of military planes, still negotiating Wedgetail price with US
Boeing turns to drone inspections of military planes, still negotiating Wedgetail price with US

Negotiations with the US Air Force over the cost of the E-7 Wedgetail are still ongoing, a Boeing executive confirmed at the Singapore Airshow.

Boeing aims for annual output of 6 E-7 Wedgetails to fill global early warning ‘gap’

Boeing aims for annual output of 6 E-7 Wedgetails to fill global early warning ‘gap’
Boeing aims for annual output of 6 E-7 Wedgetails to fill global early warning ‘gap’

As Breaking Defense toured Boeing’s Seattle area facilities where the E-7 radar plane will take shape, company officials talked about getting the bird in the air — and their vision for what it can do.

NATO picks Boeing E-7A Wedgetail as E-3 AWACS replacement

NATO picks Boeing E-7A Wedgetail as E-3 AWACS replacement
NATO picks Boeing E-7A Wedgetail as E-3 AWACS replacement

NATO’s decision to procure six Wedgetails gives another victory on the global market to Boeing’s surveillance aircraft.

‘An absolute folly’: UK lawmakers’ scathing report on E-7 Wedgetail acquisition

‘An absolute folly’: UK lawmakers’ scathing report on E-7 Wedgetail acquisition
‘An absolute folly’: UK lawmakers’ scathing report on E-7 Wedgetail acquisition

Though the UK will get three planes instead of five, the procurement report estimates that the E-7 program will cost $2.5 billion, only marginally less costly than the $2.7 billion agreed in the original order.

presented by
Real threats require real solutions: Boeing’s E-7 answers the call

Real threats require real solutions: Boeing’s E-7 answers the call
Real threats require real solutions: Boeing’s E-7 answers the call

Through its open systems architecture and agile software development, the E-7 provides rapid, affordable capability growth to remain a critical asset as threats evolve.

Air Force looks to take flight on 7 imperatives: 2023 Preview

Air Force looks to take flight on 7 imperatives: 2023 Preview
Air Force looks to take flight on 7 imperatives: 2023 Preview

“I think I’m pretty comfortable with where we are on the [fiscal 2024] budget. I think we’ll have a good story to tell,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told Breaking Defense in a recent interview.

Preparing for budget delay, Air Force asks Congress for relief on E-7 Wedgetail

Preparing for budget delay, Air Force asks Congress for relief on E-7 Wedgetail
Preparing for budget delay, Air Force asks Congress for relief on E-7 Wedgetail

“That new start reprogramming would give us the flexibility to potentially speed it up somewhat,” said Steven Wert, who leads the Air Force’s Program Executive Office Digital. “It’s not going to be a dramatic speed up, but we’re doing everything we can.”

Congress is right: Accelerate the E-7 Wedgetail buy

Congress is right: Accelerate the E-7 Wedgetail buy
Congress is right: Accelerate the E-7 Wedgetail buy

The Air Force can’t wait when it comes to modernizing command and control, writes the Mitchell Institute’s Douglas Birkey.

Lawmakers press Air Force on speeding up purchase of Boeing E-7 Wedgetail

Lawmakers press Air Force on speeding up purchase of Boeing E-7 Wedgetail
Lawmakers press Air Force on speeding up purchase of Boeing E-7 Wedgetail

“Getting the airplanes is about a two-year process, and then modifying them is another two year process,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said Tuesday. “There are things that we could do, however, to maybe get access to aircraft earlier one way or another.”

Air Force chooses Boeing E-7 Wedgetail to replace old AWACS planes

Air Force chooses Boeing E-7 Wedgetail to replace old AWACS planes
Air Force chooses Boeing E-7 Wedgetail to replace old AWACS planes

The decision had seemed an inevitability for months, but the timing of the announcement was a surprise.

F-35 cuts, F-15 boost, and E-3 replacement: Air Force’s $170B budget makes big moves in FY23

F-35 cuts, F-15 boost, and E-3 replacement: Air Force’s $170B budget makes big moves in FY23
F-35 cuts, F-15 boost, and E-3 replacement: Air Force’s $170B budget makes big moves in FY23

According to two sources with knowledge of the matter, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall had tasked the service’s budget corps to consider cancelling the F-15EX. Instead, it will receive a plus-up in the FY23 request.