This week, 16 retired four-star generals jointly called on Congress to reverse the Pentagon’s decision to curtail funding for the E-7 Wedgetail platform and to ramp up the number of F-35 Lightning II jets for the service. In a letter challenging the Trump administration’s plan to limit the Air Force’s Joint Strike Fighter acquisition and cancel the E-7 altogether, these defense leaders detailed how these cutbacks would hinder the service’s ability to meet the National Defense Strategy.

“On behalf of the Air and Space Forces Association’s 125,773 members, we write to express our alarm at recent proposals to reduce the next fiscal year’s procurement of F-35As to only 24 aircraft and terminate the E-7 Wedgetail program,” the retired general officers explained in the letter—addressed to the top Republican and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate. “During a period of heightened tension throughout the........

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