Program · United States · U.S. Air Force
E-7A Wedgetail
E-7A Wedgetail · Development · U.S. Air Force
Updated
DevelopmentU.S. Air Force
Awarded
—
Across linked awards
Cost to the Government
| Measure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Program totals · 1 | ||
| Program-specific annual RDT&EAnnual research appropriation/reference, not lifetime development cost. FY2025 figures in PB2025 are requests; PB2027 shows FY2025 actuals, FY2026 enacted/spend plan, FY2027 request. | $418.5M / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System DoD Comptroller · Mar 2024 · figure FY2025 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot |
| Unit costs · 1 | ||
| Comparable unit priceNo comparable standalone unit price was established; package or contract totals are shown separately. | Not established | — |
| Quantities · 2 | ||
| Historical U.S. prototype planTwo prototype aircraft, not the older 26-aircraft fleet objective or confirmed operational inventory. | 2U.S. only; stated source scope | E-7A prototype award, February 28, 2023 U.S. Air Force · figure 2023 prototype announcement |
| U.S. inventoryA current U.S. inventory was not established. Annual procurement, cumulative deliveries and production capacity are not a stockpile count. | Not established | — |
| Operating costs · 1 | ||
| Annual operations & supportA complete, system-specific annual operating and support cost was not established. Procurement, replacement rounds and contract support are different measures. | Not established | — |
Program totals · 1
- Program-specific annual RDT&EAnnual research appropriation/reference, not lifetime development cost. FY2025 figures in PB2025 are requests; PB2027 shows FY2025 actuals, FY2026 enacted/spend plan, FY2027 request.FY2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System DoD Comptroller · Mar 2024 · figure FY2025 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot$418.5M / yrNominal $; source budget basis
Unit costs · 1
- Comparable unit priceNo comparable standalone unit price was established; package or contract totals are shown separately.Source not recordedNot established
Quantities · 2
- Historical U.S. prototype planTwo prototype aircraft, not the older 26-aircraft fleet objective or confirmed operational inventory.E-7A prototype award, February 28, 2023 U.S. Air Force · figure 2023 prototype announcement2U.S. only; stated source scope
- U.S. inventoryA current U.S. inventory was not established. Annual procurement, cumulative deliveries and production capacity are not a stockpile count.Source not recordedNot established
Operating costs · 1
- Annual operations & supportA complete, system-specific annual operating and support cost was not established. Procurement, replacement rounds and contract support are different measures.Source not recordedNot established
Earlier observations · 3
Superseded estimates and prices, each in its original scope and dollar basis.
| Measure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Program-specific annual RDT&E1 | $411.7M / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System DoD Comptroller · Mar 2024 · figure FY2023 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot |
| Program-specific annual RDT&E1 | $681M / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System DoD Comptroller · Mar 2024 · figure FY2024 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot |
| Program-specific annual RDT&E1 | $418.5M / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System DoD Comptroller · Mar 2024 · figure FY2025 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot |
- Program-specific annual RDT&E1FY2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System DoD Comptroller · Mar 2024 · figure FY2023 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot$411.7M / yrNominal $; source budget basis
- Program-specific annual RDT&E1FY2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System DoD Comptroller · Mar 2024 · figure FY2024 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot$681M / yrNominal $; source budget basis
- Program-specific annual RDT&E1FY2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System DoD Comptroller · Mar 2024 · figure FY2025 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot$418.5M / yrNominal $; source budget basis
1Annual research appropriation/reference, not lifetime development cost. FY2025 figures in PB2025 are requests; PB2027 shows FY2025 actuals, FY2026 enacted/spend plan, FY2027 request.
Development continued after the historical budget snapshot
March 2026 modifications confirm continued U.S. prototype work. Old acquisition objectives and prototype contract averages are not presented as current production plans or unit prices.
E-7A development contract modifications, March 12, 2026 DoD contract announcement · +1 more
Foreign aircraft are not U.S. inventory
Australia and the UK have separate national configurations and procurement histories. Australian-dollar project spending remains separate from the U.S. development contract.
Wedgetail introduction: six aircraft project Royal Australian Air Force · +1 more
Contracts & purchasing · 3
Ceilings, options and purchase agreements are not spending and are never added together. Obligations are under Contracts.
| Buyer → seller | Status | Value | Qty | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Air Force → BoeingPrototype development ceiling; later changes to the same program must not be treated as unrelated full contracts. | Initial undefinitized action · not to exceed | $1.2B | — | E-7A prototype award, February 28, 2023 U.S. Air Force · figure Feb 28, 2023 |
| U.S. Air Force → BoeingRapid Prototype Airborne Mission Segment on FA8730-23-C-0025. Announcement repeats the same before/after cumulative value, so no reconstructed cumulative total is inferred. | Option exercise modification P00045 | $2.335B | — | E-7A development contract modifications, March 12, 2026 DoD contract announcement · figure Mar 12, 2026 |
| U.S. Air Force → BoeingMESA diminishing manufacturing sources work, same underlying contract. Not a separate aircraft purchase. | Modification P00042 | $99.275M | — | E-7A development contract modifications, March 12, 2026 DoD contract announcement · figure Mar 12, 2026 |
International buyers · 2
| Country | Qty | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| AustraliaA$3.4B project for six airframes; not U.S. pricing or a contemporary six-aircraft purchase. | 6 | Historical project quantity | Wedgetail introduction: six aircraft project Royal Australian Air Force · figure 2009 introduction history |
| United KingdomFirst Wedgetail arrival at Lossiemouth does not establish operational readiness or completed delivery of the fleet. | Not verified | First aircraft arrival | First Wedgetail arrives at RAF Lossiemouth, May 2026 Royal Air Force · figure May 2026 |
Open research: Buyer records are selected examples, not a complete global order book. Current U.S. inventory requires additional public evidence; procurement quantities are not inventory. Complete system-specific annual operating and support costs were not established.
What the government budgets and pays for this program, from budget justification books, appropriations, acquisition reports and contract announcements. Each figure states its dollar basis. What contractors were obligated is under Contracts.
No participants, contracts or systems recorded for this program yet.