NATO ally the Netherlands and an unspecified number of partner countries are pulling out of plans to purchase six U.S.-made Boeing E-7 Wedgetail surveillance aircraft, the Dutch defense ministry said this week.
“The strategic and financial basis has disappeared. Therefore, the remaining countries … ceased the acquisition of the E-7,” the ministry said in a statement Thursday. The countries, which were not listed, are now exploring alternatives to fulfill the AWACS function, the statement said.
The move follows the United States’ withdrawal in July from a multinational effort to replace NATO’s aging Boeing E-3A planes with newer Wedgetails.
In the American decision to quit the replacement program, the Pentagon cited rising costs, production delays and survivability concerns.
“The U.S. withdrawal also underscores the importance of investing in European industry,” Dutch State Secretary Gijs Tuinman said in the statement.
NATO’s primary fleet of 14 E-3As is based in Geilenkirchen, Germany. The E-3As are expected to reach the end of their service life by 2035 and are criticized for noise pollution, according to the statement.
Posted by John3262005
1 Comment
Is this a good or bad pullout from a US standpoint? Like is this dumb or normal?