US to bolster surveillance operations with more aircraft to modernize early warning capabilities

The U.S. Air Force will buy five more Boeing E-7A Wedgetails, expanding the fleet to seven aircraft.

The new jets will replace aging E-3 Sentry AWACS platforms as part of a broader airborne surveillance upgrade.

The E-7A is designed to improve early warning, networking, and command-and-control in more contested airspace.

The move aims to boost survivability against modern jamming and missile threats while supporting JADC2 operations.