E-7

Mission — E-7A source

Funds the E-7 program. The E-7 program replaces the unsustainable E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS). The E-3 AWACS, first fielded in the 1970s, is at the end of its service life, and costly to maintain. The E-7 will serve as the USAF's principal airborne platform for airborne command and control and airborne moving target indicator, providing a reliable, persistent critical node in the long range kill chain for the Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC). The E-7 will provide increased capabilities to the USAF and the Joint Services to include the ability to detect and track highly maneuverable, small radar cross-section airborne targets (modern and emerging threats), the ability to real-time process and create a precise air picture, and the ability to battle manage (e.g. command and control) under a wide range of operational conditions. The E-7A is a highly modified Airborne Battle Management and Command and Control aircraft integrating a Boeing 737-700 Next Generation (737NG) airframe with a reinforced fuselage Section 46, a Northrop Grumman Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) Radar mounted on the aircraft's Section 46, and two 180-kVA generators added to commercial CFM-56 engines mounted beneath each wing. The E-7 will provide a reliable, operationally available, maintainable, and sustainable capability. E-7A consists of completing end items and modification components for aircraft to support test and evaluation; hardware and software modernization development efforts to ensure compliance with US cybersecurity and program protection standards; development efforts to ensure navigation and communication systems comply with GPS M-Code and Narrowband SATCOM mandates; development efforts to design and build flight planning terminals, deployable mission support systems, and mission crew trainers; design and build-out contractor and government System Integration Laboratories supporting development, integration, and test activities; and provide analysis and products supporting future requirements and airworthiness certification. E-7 Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C2ISR): C2ISR system improvements investigate and develop future capabilities of the E-7 weapon system. These efforts also include but are not limited to advanced sensors, advanced communications, self-protection, enhanced cyber protection, the staffing and studying of cooperative development capabilities, and obsolescence resolution to ensure that the E-7 successfully integrates with joint and coalition forces in a net-centric environment. C2ISR primarily supports pre-systems acquisition in the areas of materiel solution analysis and technology development. This is accomplished by prototyping and demonstrating capabilities required by the warfighter. C2ISR also supports an analytical comparison of suitability, life-cycle cost, and system capabilities of alternative materiel solutions beyond the current E-7A that satisfy an established capability need identified in a User Requirements Document. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, or 0606398F. In FY 2024 $4.970M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025 $8.059M is forecast for civilian pay expenses in this program element. The FY 2026 cost of the E-7A Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is reflected in the budget request, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The Department will certify FYDP funding in a future budget submission. This effort is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P), because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (2)