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Air Force

Defense Appropriations Conferees Provide $900 Million Boost For Boeing E-7 Wedgetail

Frank Wolfe

Tuesday, January 20th, 2026

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Defense Appropriations Conferees Provide $900 Million Boost For Boeing E-7 Wedgetail

Pictured is a Royal Australian Air Force photo of an E-7A Wedgetail taking from Eielson AFB, Alaska.

The Boeing [BA] E-7 Wedgetail for the U.S. Air Force receives a $900 million boost to $1.1 billion in the fiscal 2026 defense appropriations conference bill which prohibits the Pentagon from killing the program. Since 2023, the Air Force has retired 15 of its 31 Boeing E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) planes but has said it may retain the remaining 16 until 2033. NATO has embarked upon a final life extension for its 14 AWACS to keep them…

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