Past financial woes won’t affect US Air Force E-7A programme, Boeing says
Based on UK Wedgetail programme costs the additional 24 E-7s for the USAF could be worth around $9 billion. (Photo: US DoD)
Boeing said its recent financial issues on other defence programmes will not affect the USAF’s E-7A programme and the first aircraft is expected to be operational by 2027.
The USAF has awarded Boeing a contract to begin work on the E-7A future airborne battle management aircraft to replace the E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS).
The initial contract will not exceed $1.2 billion. A Boeing spokesperson told Shephard that this only covers the development of two E-7A airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.
The USAF said that the first E-7A is expected to be ready for operational duty by 2027 and intends to buy 24 more aircraft by 2032, bringing the anticipated total inventory to 26.
An initial $134 million of FY2022/23 R&D monies was allocated against the
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