
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing [BA] a $1.2 billion research and development contract to begin rapid prototyping of the E-7A Wedgetail aircraft. Boeing said that, under the contract, it will begun development work on two Wedgetails. Rapid fielding of the E-7A is a priority for Air Force Gen. Mark Kelly, the head of Air Combat Command, and Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has also discussed the need (Defense Daily, Nov. 15, 2022). The Wedgetail is to replace at…