E-7A

Abstract

This budget line funds the E-7A program. The E-7A 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-7A will be the USAF's principal airborne sensor for detecting, identifying, tracking, and reporting aerial tracks for the Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC). The E-7A will provide multiple benefits and increased capabilities to the USAF and the Joint Services, including but not limited to: 1) ability to detect and track highly maneuverable, small radar cross-section airborne targets (modern and emerging threats); 2) enable greater airborne battlespace awareness through its precise, real-time air picture of sufficient quality to control and direct individual aircraft under a wide range of environmental and operational conditions; and 3) mitigate reliability, operational availability, maintainability, and sustainability issues. 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 reinforced Section 46, a Northrop Grumman Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array Radar mounted on the aircraft's Section 46, and two 180-kVA generators added to commercial CFM-56 engines mounted beneath each wing. FY2025 funding will support continued rapid prototyping of two E-7As. Rapid prototyping consists of completing end items and modification components for two 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 aircrew, mission crew, and maintenance 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, 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 Capability Development Document (CDD), Rapid Prototyping Requirements Document (RPRD), or Rapid Fielding Requirements Document (RFRD). E-7A is not fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. While continuing to evaluate the contractor proposal, the Department of the Air Force is assessing all options to address the funding shortfalls for MTA programs including additional funding in a future budget request, performance trade based on technical maturity, or transition to alternative pathways. 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 elements 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY23, 3.677M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element. In FY24, 8.014M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element. 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.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2025
• Source ID: 644413_0604007F_4_3600_PB_2025

Tags

Readers

• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.

Technology Areas

• Cyber
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Microelectronics
• Space