16 RETIRED USAF GENERALS ARE TRYING TO SAVE F-35 AND E-7 PROGRAM
In an unprecedented move, a group of 19 retired USAF General Officers, including 16 four-stars and six former USAF Chiefs of Staff, released a joint letter to Congressional leaders urging them to address critical shortfalls they've seen in the DoD’s recently-released Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget plan. Specifically, the Generals called out planned cuts to the number of F-35s that will be procured and the termination of the E-7A Wedgetail Program in FY26.
The Generals penned the letter on behalf of the Air Force Association’s 125,773 members and raised their concerns that the cuts would seriously impact the Air Force’s ability to fight and win future wars against near peer adversaries. The letter states, “During a period of heightened tension throughout the world, we believe such reductions will severely and unnecessarily undermine our service members’ ability to deter, and if necessary, prevail in future conflicts.”
F-35 Procurement Reductions
Prior to DoD’s submission of its FY26 budget plan, the Air Force’s longstanding goal was to procure 72 new fighter aircraft per year with the ultimate target of procuring 1,763 F-35 fighter aircraft. However, DoD’s budget plan only calls for the procurement of 24 new F-35 aircraft.
Even when the addition of 21 new F-15EX fighters are added to the fighter order sheet, the total number falls below the 72 aircraft goal.
The Generals see this as particularly alarming particularly in light of the important role F-35 aircraft played in the successful bombing of Iranian nuclear development sites last month.
“F-35As were integral to the success of Operation Midnight Hammer, but also crucial to the Israeli Air Force’s ability to crush Iran’s air defenses and swiftly achieve air superiority over Iran,” the letter pointed out.
In addition, the letter also spoke to the commitment America’s European allies have and will continue to make to the F-35 program. “Our allies confirm the importance of the F-35’s vital capabilities with their recent increase in purchases. Specifically, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Romania, Greece, Czech Republic and Finland, have recently committed to adopting the F-35A or meaningfully increasing their planned procurement.”
Save the E-7A Wedgetail
The Generals were even more passionate in their pleas to save the E-7A Wedgetail, a platform intended to replace the service’s aging E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.
To date, about half the USAF fleet has been retired, and the Air Force has developed a plan to begin transitioning from the E-3 to the E-7 before 2030. If the DoD budget plan gains approval without modification, then the Air Force’s transition plan is dead.
In their letter, the Generals also expressed their concerns about DoD’s proposal to procure additional E-2 Hawkeyes to make up for a likely airborne battle management command and control shortfall.
“Regarding the E-7 Wedgetail, this program is proposed for termination and as a stopgap measure additional E-2 Hawkeye’s will be procured. However, the E-2 is unable to meet the combatant command requirements for theater-wide airborne command and control. That is not the mission for which it is designed. Additionally, the E-7 can perform missions different from traditional AWACS roles that will be critical to the China contingency.”
One of the retired Generals who signed the letter was Lori Robinson who served as the Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) before her retirement.
General Robinson is a career Air Battle Manager – the officers who perform the tactical battle management role in the Air Force – and is a graduate of the USAF’s prestigious Weapons School. During a career that saw her become the highest ranking woman in US military history, Gen Robinson commanded at both the group and wing levels at the 552 Air Control Wing, the Air Force’s main operating base for its E-3 AWACS fleet.
“The E-7 is a theatre command and control platform. It is capable of many mission sets, and indispensable in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility,” Robinson said. “Our Allies that provide battle management from the E-7 sing its praises. It is a force multiplier and, if procured, it will be a significant asset to the USAF.”
Australia, South Korea and Turkey currently operate the E-7 and the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force is on contract with Boeing for three of the aircraft.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated that one of the reasons for the E-7 program’s cancellation is the DoD’s plan to migrate this mission to space-based capabilities.
While the Generals agree with that vision, they struggle to accept the timeline. The generals highlighted “daunting” scientific and engineering challenges to overcome, and said that it’s unclear how long that would take. Retired General David Deptula, Dean of the Mitchell Institute, estimated it could take decades and said it certainly would not be ready by 2030.
Congress Holds the Keys
The ball is now in Congress’ court. They can, and have in the past, made significant changes to DoD’s budget submission before enacting a National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the new fiscal year.
Congressmen from states and districts that have personal interests in the F-35 and E-7 programs will certainly make their voices heard. Others who strongly believe that the F-35 and E-7 capabilities should not be reduced or cut will also weigh in.
The House Appropriations Committee and its Defense Appropriations Subcommittee have already indicated that there may be wiggle room by providing in its FY26 Defense Appropriations bill $4.5 billion for 42 F-35As and an additional $500 million for the further development of the E-7. The retired Generals clearly want more than this, but they were “heartened” to see that the fight is far from over.
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