Military Retirees Call on Congress for Financing of E-7 Aircraft and Additional F-35 Fighters
**Former US Air Force Generals Call for Increased F-35A Purchases and Restoration of E-7 Funding**
A group of retired four-star US Air Force generals have penned a letter urging Congress to authorize the procurement of 75 F-35A fighter jets and to restore full funding for the E-7 Wedgetail battle management platform in the Fiscal Year 2026 defense budget.
In a letter published on July 7, 2025, via the Air & Space Forces Association, the generals addressed key congressional leaders, expressing their concern that cutting F-35A buys and terminating the E-7 program would "severely and unnecessarily undermine our service members’ ability to deter, and if necessary, prevail in future conflicts."
The retired generals argue that the E-7 Wedgetail is critical for airborne early warning and battle management, essential for projecting air power and winning future conflicts. They emphasize the necessity of the E-7 for interoperability and maintaining allied defense capabilities, as several allied nations, including the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, Turkey, and NATO, are procuring the E-7 Wedgetail for this vital combat role.
In terms of the F-35 program, the generals argue that reducing the F-35A procurement amidst global tensions undermines air dominance and deterrence. They push for an increase in F-35A purchases, recognizing the F-35 as a cornerstone of future US air combat capability.
The generals' arguments focus on the need for advanced airborne battle management and early warning, airpower projection, and aligning with allied forces’ capabilities. They have challenged the administration's decision to terminate the E-7 Wedgetail program due to cost and survivability concerns, warning that such cancellations will harm US military effectiveness in future conflicts.
The House Appropriations Committee and its defense subcommittee have already included $4.5 billion for 42 F-35As and $500 million to continue development of the E-7 in their version of the fiscal 2026 Defense Appropriations bill. The generals have requested additional resources for the E-7 to be deployed at the earliest opportunity.
The generals have not mentioned any specific issues with the E-7 Wedgetail program's Tech Refresh 3 upgrade. They believe having a robust tracking and battle management system is fundamental to projecting airpower and winning conflicts. They have also called for the reinstatement of funding for the E-7 Wedgetail battle management platform that was omitted from the Pentagon's 2026 budget request.
The letter was addressed to Republican and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate, as well as the members of the House and Senate Armed Services committees and House and Senate Appropriations defense subcommittees. The retired leaders include Gen. Joseph W. Ralston, former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, among others.
The generals have highlighted the success of F-35s in Operation Midnight Hammer, where US and Israeli F-35s were integral to taking out Iran's nuclear sites and achieving air superiority over Iran. They did not express any support for acquiring additional E-2 Hawkeye aircraft as a stopgap measure, as the E-2 Hawkeye is considered insufficient to meet combatant command requirements for theater-wide airborne command and control.
- The retired US Air Force generals, in their letter, expressed their concern that cutting F-35A purchases and terminating the E-7 program would negatively impact the defense industry's ability to meet future conflicts, especially as several allied nations, such as the United Kingdom and South Korea, are also procuring the E-7 Wedgetail.
- In a bid to reinforce air dominance and deterrence, the generals argued for an increase in F-35A purchases, recognizing the aerospace industry's significance of the F-35 as a cornerstone of future US air combat capability, much like the US Air Force and Space Force rely on aircraft and space resources for defense.
- The generals challenge the administration's decision to terminate the E-7 Wedgetail program due to cost and survivability concerns, warning that such cancellations could harm US military finance in future conflicts, as the E-7's capabilities for airborne early warning and battle management are crucial for maintaining allied defense capabilities.
- The generals have emphasized the necessity of the E-7 for interoperability and inter-agency cooperation, much like the Space Force collaborates with the Air Force for space-related projects, and they have requested additional resources to deploy the E-7 Wedgetail battle management platform at the earliest opportunity.
