House backs $1.55 billion to revive E-7 Wedgetail, spares Navy Hawkeye

Key Points:

• The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed reallocating over $1.55 billion from Navy and Air Force procurement accounts to fund the Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail airborne battle management jet program, which was previously canceled by the Pentagon.
• The funding shift involved cutting $651 million from the Navy’s E-2D Hawkeye account and $899 million from a classified Air Force procurement line, redirecting these funds into Air Force research, development, test, and evaluation to support two E-7 prototypes and ongoing development activities.
• The House Appropriations Committee supported the E-7 funding realignment but rejected the Navy funding cut, restoring the $651 million to the E-2D Hawkeye program, emphasizing the importance of both platforms to current and future warfighter needs.
• Lawmakers have requested a detailed briefing from the Air Force on the E-7 acquisition strategy, including quantities, funding needs, and production schedules, reflecting ongoing concerns about the program's future beyond prototype development.
• The Pentagon reversed its prior decision to cancel the E-7 program due to the war in Iran, which highlighted a critical airborne battle management gap that cannot be filled by satellites or additional E-2D aircraft alone.