Air Force Doubles Down on Space-Based Radar Amid Aircraft Losses

Secretary Meink says new space system will field rapidly, despite cuts to E-7 Wedgetail radar plane program.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 1:35am

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A dynamic, fragmented painting depicting an Air Force radar plane in motion, with overlapping geometric shapes and brushstrokes in shades of blue, gray, and red, conveying a sense of speed and urgency.As the Air Force's radar plane fleet faces losses, the service doubles down on a space-based solution to maintain critical battlespace awareness.Colorado Springs Today

The U.S. Air Force is pursuing a new space-based system to detect airborne threats, even as its fleet of E-3 radar planes has been targeted and damaged in recent attacks by Iran. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the service has awarded a base contract for the new space-based airborne moving target communication capability and has allocated around $7 billion for it in the 2027 budget request. However, funding for the E-7 Wedgetail radar plane replacement has been cut, despite military experts warning of an immediate need for the capability to upgrade battlespace awareness.

Why it matters

The significant damage to the Air Force's E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft in Iran has alarmed former military officials, who warn that targeting radar planes is a tactic to 'blind the eyes and handicap the ability to project power.' The push for a space-based system appears to be the Air Force's response, but it raises questions about the service's priorities and the survivability of current and future airborne radar capabilities.

The details

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the service has awarded a base contract for a new space-based airborne moving target communication capability and has allocated around $7 billion for it in the 2027 budget request. However, funding for the E-7 Wedgetail radar plane replacement has been cut, despite military experts warning of an immediate need for the capability to upgrade battlespace awareness. Meink expressed confidence in the space-based system, saying it 'will probably be far and away the most capable AMTI system ever built,' but acknowledged it won't do the entire job and that other systems will be needed for data fusion.

  • Last month, the Air Force awarded $2.3 billion in contracts to Boeing for Wedgetail development.
  • Last year, the Air Force's 2026 budget request cut funding for the E-7 program, but Congress added back more than $1 billion.
  • One of the Air Force's E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft was hit in a recent Iranian missile attack last month.

The players

Troy Meink

The Secretary of the U.S. Air Force who is championing the space-based radar system and downplaying the need for additional funding for the E-7 Wedgetail radar plane.

Pete Hegseth

The U.S. Defense Secretary who last year criticized the E-7's survivability and pushed for space-based systems.

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What they’re saying

“Space-based AMTI, I think, will probably be far and away the most capable AMTI system ever built.”

— Troy Meink, Secretary of the U.S. Air Force

“They're going after the tankers. They went after the E-3. The bad guys understand that if we blind the eyes and handicap the ability to project power, then we don't have to deal with the fighters.”

— Former military official

What’s next

The Air Force is finalizing decisions within the Pentagon about how to proceed with the E-7 Wedgetail program, and will roll out those plans to Congress when appropriate.

The takeaway

The Air Force's push for a space-based radar system over additional funding for the E-7 Wedgetail highlights the service's priorities, but raises concerns about the survivability of current and future airborne radar capabilities, especially as adversaries like Iran target these critical assets to 'blind the eyes' of U.S. forces.