(a) Extension and modification of minimum inventory requirement
Section 149 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 ( Public Law 119–60 ) is amended—
by striking below 16 each place it appears and inserting below 15 ; and
in subsection (a), by striking fiscal year 2026 and inserting fiscal year 2026 or 2027 .
(b) Requirement to plan and budget for E–7 program of record
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees—
a detailed schedule for procurement, fielding, and achievement of initial and full operating capability for E–7 Wedgetail aircraft; and
a funding profile across the period covered by the Future Years Defense Program sufficient to meet the requirements of paragraph (1).
(c) Capability assurance
The Secretary of Air Force shall certify to the congressional defense committees that—
the plan under subsection (b) will ensure there is no degradation in the airborne early warning, battle management, and command and control capabilities available to support combatant commands; and
any proposed retirement of E–3 aircraft will not result in a gap in operational coverage, mission availability, or responsiveness to the demands of the combatant commands.