E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft @Dutch MoD
European nations, including the Netherlands, have decided against acquiring six Boeing E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Warning and Control Aircraft (AWACS) as replacements for the aging Boeing E-3A fleet.
This was confirmed in an official statement issued by the Dutch Ministry of Defence.
The existing E-3A AWACS aircraft, which have monitored European airspace since 1982 from Geilenkirchen, Germany, are expected to reach the end of their service life in 2035. The Netherlands said the aircraft have also been causing noise pollution in the region.
The decision follows the withdrawal of the U.S. from the joint AWACS replacement program in July 2024, which left the initiative without its strategic and financial foundation. The remaining European partners, part of the Support Partnership Committee, have therefore suspended plans to procure the U.S.-made E-7 Wedgetail and are now seeking alternative solutions and partners.
“The goal remains to have other, quieter aircraft operational by 2035,” said Dutch State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman. “The U.S. withdrawal (from the joint AWACS replacement program) also demonstrates the importance of investing as much as possible in European industry.”
AWACS aircraft play a critical role in NATO operations, equipped with radar and communications systems that enable rapid deployment and coordination of air operations. NATO first introduced these radar aircraft into service in 1982.
With the E-7 acquisition now shelved, European partners are expected to explore other options to sustain NATO’s airborne surveillance capability beyond 2035. While there is no single European-made AWACS platform that directly matches the Boeing E-7’s capabilities, options include modified Airbus A330, Airbus C295 AEW&C, Dassault Falcon-based AEW platform and Saab GlobalEye aircraft.