The US Air Force has started market research to find contractors capable of designing and delivering a suite of training devices for its future E-7 Wedgetail aircraft, according to a Request for Information (RFI) issued to industry.
The initiative comes as the E-7 is set to succeed the ageing E-3 Sentry as the service’s airborne warning and control platform.
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Specifically, the Air Force is seeking industry feedback on the development, delivery, and ongoing support for an Operational Flight Trainer, two Virtual Maintenance Trainers, and a dedicated Training System Support Centre.
According to documents released by the US Government, the device development is expected to begin in 2027 or 2028, with long-term support anticipated beyond the systems’ delivery.
The RFI will gather information from potential suppliers; it does not constitute a formal request for proposals at this stage.
“The purpose of the E-7 Training Program is to provide the highest hands-on training experience for the E-7 flight crew and maintenance crew, to minimize aircraft training time,” the RFI document read.
This market research follows the Air Force’s 2022 selection of Boeing’s E-7 Wedgetail, a platform based on the 737 commercial airframe, as the replacement for the E-3 Sentry AWACS.
According to Air Force officials, the E-7 stood out as the only current aircraft able to meet the tactical battle management, command, and control requirements set by the Department of War.
The E-7 Wedgetail features a range of 3,500 nautical miles unrefuelled, a maximum ceiling of 41,000ft, and an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system with a range of 300 nautical miles.
The aircraft will operate with a total crew of 21, including two pilots.
Funding for the E-7 programme has seen several reversals in recent years. Although the Pentagon initially sought to remove E-7 procurement from the 2026 and 2027 budgets, Congress reinstated funding, a decision later confirmed by defence secretary Pete Hegseth in May.
Air Force Secretary, Troy Meink, told Congress that a $1.5bn budget amendment would restore E-7 Wedgetail funding for fiscal year 2027, with continued allocations for 2028 and subsequent years, including support for the first five production aircraft.
