Airborne warning and control system aircraft

Section 9062 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (o) (1) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Secretary of the Air Force may not retire, prepare to retire, or place in storage or in backup aircraft inventory any E–3 aircraft if such actions would reduce the total aircraft inventory for such aircraft below 16. (B) If the Secretary of the Air Force procures enough E–7 Wedgetail aircraft to accomplish the required mission load, the prohibition under subparagraph (A) shall not apply to actions taken to reduce the total aircraft inventory for E–3 aircraft to below 16 after the date on which such E–7 Wedgetail aircraft are delivered. (2) The Secretary of the Air Force may not pause, cancel, or terminate the E–7 Wedgetail aircraft program or prepare to pause, cancel, or terminate such program..