澳大利亚已开始着手研究波音E-7A“楔尾”空中预警与控制（AEW&C）飞机的替代方案。
在《2026年国防战略》文件中，堪培拉列出了澳大利亚皇家空军（RAAF）未来的九大优先事项，目标是建立一支具备远程情报、监视、侦察（ISR）及增强打击能力的空军。其中一个关键优先事项便是用“下一代飞机”取代E-7A。
国防部的《综合投资项目》文件提供了更多细节，建议在与国际伙伴合作的情况下，继续开发和规划预定更换方案，同时维持现有E-7A的有效性。数据显示，已批准500万澳元用于初步工作，整个项目在“2026-2027至2035-2036”时间框架内的预计总成本在100亿至150亿澳元之间。
目前，澳大利亚皇家空军运营着6架由波音737NG衍生而来的E-7A。美国空军虽计划采购26架以取代E-3，但面临来自特朗（Donald Trump）政府的政治阻力，后者更倾向于发展天基AEW&C能力。2025年底，E-7A在韩国的竞标中失利，首尔选择了由L3Harris和Elta Systems提供的基于庞巴迪环球6500商务机的解决方案。
Australia has started looking at what could replace its Boeing E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.
In the country’s 2026 National Defence Strategy document, Canberra lists nine priorities for the future of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), which will be “an air force with long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance [ISR] and an enhanced strike capability.”
One priority is the replacement of the E-7A with a “next-generation aircraft”.
An accompanying document, the Department of Defence’s (DoD’s) Integrated Investment Program, offers more details in a section dedicated to missile defence.
It suggests, however, that replacement of the type is not imminent, and calls for maintaining the effectiveness of the E-7A “and continuing the development and planning for their scheduled replacement, in cooperation with international partners”.
In a table, the DoD indicates that A$5 million ($3.6 million) has been approved for work to replace the E-7A, but that the total cost of the project is envisaged between A$10-15 billion in the “2026-2027 to 2035-2036” timeframe.
The RAAF operates six E-7As, a derivative of the 737NG.
Other operators of the E-7 include Turkey and South Korea, which operate four each. The UK is in the process of obtaining three examples, with the first due to be delivered to the Royal Air Force later this year.
The US Air Force (USAF) has plans to obtain 26 examples to replace its Boeing E-3 Sentries, but this faces political opposition from the administration of US President Donald Trump, which prefers a space-based AEW&C capability. The USAF will, however, receive two prototypes to evaluate the aircraft.
In late 2025, the E-7A lost a competition in South Korea for four additional AEW&C aircraft. Instead of more E-7As, Seoul opted for a solution based on the Bombardier Global 6500 business jet put forward by Elta Systems, Korean Air, and prime contractor L3Harris.
Regarding other ISR platforms, the RAAF will receive its 14th and final Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft in 2026. One priority is to integrate the Lockheed Martin AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile with the P-8A.
Moreover, three Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton unmanned air vehicles have entered service, with a “fourth and final” aircraft to arrive before the end of the decade.
At the Avalon air show in March 2025, a Northrop executive told FlightGlobal that it intended to deliver the fourth MQ-4C in 2028.
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