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Retired Air Force Generals Urge Congress to Reconsider E-7 Wedgetail and Increase F-35 Purchases
A group of retired Air Force senior statesmen have expressed concern about the readiness and viability of space-based alternatives for air and ground target indication, urging Congress to reconsider the planned cancellation of the E-7 Wedgetail early warning and control aircraft and increase the purchase of F-35 fighters.
During a June 10 call with reporters, the generals emphasized the critical role of airborne platforms like the E-7 Wedgetail in providing real-time details about enemy aircraft, a mission that they argue is much tougher from space. They cautioned that space-based options for Air Moving Target Indication (AMTI) and Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI) have yet to be proven in operational scenarios.
The Pentagon and Space Force are investing heavily in developing space-based GMTI capabilities, aiming for initial fielding around 2027-28 and operational deployment by the 2030s. The program involves $29 billion in Space Force R&D spending, including $6.4 billion for Long-Range Kill Chains and collaborations with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). However, the generals highlighted that these systems currently face significant technical, operational, and security challenges.
The space domain's vulnerability, technological maturity, and the difficulty of reliably tracking detailed target data from orbit are major hurdles yet to be overcome. General John Loh, who was both a Vice Chief of Staff and head of Air Combat Command, stated that attempting to achieve the AMTI/GMTI mission by disaggregating the elements onto other platforms is not possible yet.
The E-7 Wedgetail's missions include air battle management, which is not addressed by migrating the AMTI/GMTI function to space. The generals argue that the E-7 Wedgetail remains critical because it provides real-time details about enemy aircraft, a mission that they argue is much tougher from space.
The F-35, with its advanced capabilities and success in action in Syria and Iran, is another priority for the generals. General Philip M. Breedlove emphasized the F-35 as a priority due to its advanced capabilities. The F-35 is being bought by allies in large numbers and is interoperable, according to General Moseley.
The Air Force is currently retiring more aircraft than it is buying due to the "divest to invest" strategy. Former Chief of Staff Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman agrees that "divest to invest" has never worked and argues for an adequate share of the budget to provide air superiority for the entire joint force. Fogleman cheers the proposal of a $1 trillion defense budget but argues against it being "salami-sliced the way it has been in the past", suggesting a redistribution of Pentagon funding towards the Air Force.
Fogleman stresses the importance of air superiority for the success of both naval and land forces, and the potential high price that would be paid without it. He insists that the Air Force needs "more money" and a redistribution of Pentagon funding, and argues that the extra money needed to fight a Pacific war should "come from, unfortunately, land forces".
The generals, including six former Chiefs of Staff, sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to rescue the E-7 Wedgetail from its planned cancelation and significantly increase the purchase of F-35 fighters. They argue that these aircraft are crucial for the Air Force to maintain its readiness and capability in the face of growing threats.
In conclusion, while space-based air and ground target indication systems are under development and represent a future capability, retired Air Force experts caution that these systems currently face significant technical, operational, and security challenges. The generals argue that the space domain's vulnerability, technological maturity, and the difficulty of reliably tracking detailed target data from orbit are major hurdles yet to be overcome. They urge Congress to reconsider the planned cancellation of the E-7 Wedgetail and increase the purchase of F-35 fighters to maintain the Air Force's readiness and capability.
References:
- Retired Air Force Generals Urge Congress to Reconsider E-7 Wedgetail
- Air Force Generals Warn of Space-Based Target Indication Challenges
- Space Force's GMTI Plans Face Challenges
- The retired Air Force generals have expressed concerns about the readiness and viability of space-based alternatives for air and ground target indication, urging Congress to reconsider the cancellation of the E-7 Wedgetail and increase F-35 fighter purchases.
- During a discussion, these generals highlighted that space-based options for Air Moving Target Indication (AMTI) and Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI) have not been proven in operational scenarios, and emphasized that the E-7 Wedgetail plays a critical role in providing real-time details about enemy aircraft.
- The generals argue that the Pentagon's investment in developing space-based GMTI capabilities faces significant technical, operational, and security challenges, along with the difficulty of reliably tracking detailed target data from orbit.
- General John Loh stated that achieving the AMTI/GMTI mission by disaggregating the elements onto other platforms is not yet possible, and the generals stress that the E-7 Wedgetail's mission of air battle management is not addressed by migrating the AMTI/GMTI function to space.
- The generals also prioritize the F-35, with its advanced capabilities and proven success in action, noting its wide usage by allies and its interoperability.
- Fogleman urges Congress to rescue the E-7 Wedgetail from its planned cancelation and significantly increase the purchase of F-35 fighters, arguing that these aircraft are crucial for the Air Force to maintain its readiness and capability in the face of growing threats.
