Pentagon Invests in Embattled Radar Plane Amid Congressional Pressure

The US Air Force has awarded Boeing two separate contracts to continue development of the E-7 Wedgetail, a radar plane that has faced significant challenges and controversy. The awards, totaling $2.4 billion, come after lawmakers rejected the Air Force’s attempt to cancel the program last year. The contracts will be used to buy developmental aircraft and address manufacturing issues with the plane’s radar. The future of the program remains uncertain, but the awards suggest that the Air Force may be warming up to the aircraft again, which could have implications for NATO’s procurement plans. The development was first reported by Breaking Defense.