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Air Force

Group of Retired USAF Flags Urge Continuation of Wedgetail, Increased F-35 Buy

Frank Wolfe

Tuesday, July 8th, 2025

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Group of Retired USAF Flags Urge Continuation of Wedgetail, Increased F-35 Buy

Pictured is a KC-46A Pegasus with the 418th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, Calif. refueling a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail this spring (U.S. Air Force Photo)

A group of six former U.S. Air Force chiefs of staff and 13 other retired Air Force generals are urging Congress to fund Boeing [BA] E-7 Wedgetails to replace the Air Force's E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) fleet and to increase the planned annual number of Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-35As bought in fiscal 2026 from 24 to 75. In canceling the buy of up to 26 Wedgetails in the years ahead in favor of the development and fielding…

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