The Dutch Ministry of Defence has announced that the Netherlands and several other European NATO members are abandoning their plans to jointly procure six Boeing E-7 Wedgetail aircraft to replace the alliance’s aging Boeing E-3A AWACS fleet.
According to the ministry, the United States pulled out of the AWACS replacement effort in July, removing the program’s strategic and financial foundation. As a result, the remaining six NATO nations involved are now assessing other options and seeking new partners.
NATO currently flies 14 E-3A aircraft out of Geilenkirchen, Germany, which make up Europe’s primary airborne early-warning capability. These aircraft, which also generate significant noise pollution, are expected to reach the end of their service life by 2035, the Dutch MoD noted.
“The goal is still to have newer, quieter aircraft operational before 2035,” Dutch State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman said, adding that the U.S. withdrawal underscores the need for greater investment in European aerospace industries.
The Netherlands emphasized that AWACS platforms, with their advanced radar and communication systems, are vital for protecting NATO airspace and coordinating air operations.
The U.S. Department of Defense announced in July that it was terminating its E-7 Wedgetail procurement due to major delays, rising costs, and concerns over the aircraft’s survivability in high-threat environments. Instead, the U.S. plans to increase funding for space-based surveillance systems and expand its fleet of E-2D Hawkeye aircraft.
The E-3A, a heavily modified Boeing 707 first designed in the 1950s, is recognizable by the large radar disk mounted above its fuselage. The E-7 Wedgetail is based on the more modern Boeing 737.
Europe’s primary alternative to the E-7 is Saab’s GlobalEye. Saab CEO Micael Johansson said in October that interest in the aircraft has grown significantly among NATO members, including Germany and Denmark, as well as several other nations. The GlobalEye uses Saab’s advanced radar and sensor suite installed on a Bombardier long-range business jet.
Dassault Aviation has also offered an adapted version of its Falcon 10X for the AWACS mission, though its prospects dimmed after France announced in June that it would be purchasing Saab’s GlobalEye system.
