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  "description": "Australian media reports have downplayed the government's \"small contribution\" to the war with Iran, but one asset we're sending is a weapon the US doesn't have, and American generals have described it as \"fundamental\" to winning wars.",
  "path": "/australia-is-sending-a-weapon-fundamental-to-winning-wars-according-to-us-generals/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-12T23:56:30.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.lamestream.com.au",
  "tags": [
    "_described in the Australian media_",
    "_small contribution_",
    "_told parliament_",
    "_Defence Minister_",
    "_the letter_",
    "...] will provide intelligence for US and Israeli air strikes,” the _Herald Sun_ [_reported_",
    "_refused to answer questions_",
    "Subscribe now"
  ],
  "textContent": "There’s a new and powerful weapon that the United States Air Force has been trying to get its hands on for years, and some of the most decorated officers to ever serve in the Air Force believe it’s crucial if the US is to “prevail whenever the next conflict unfolds”.\n\nLast year, President Donald Trump’s new leadership at the Pentagon wanted to axe the entire program, but it was saved after the remarkable intervention of sixteen retired four-star generals, including four former leaders of the US Air Force.\n\nThe generals came out publicly against the Pentagon, urging Congress to overrule it, and secure the future of US air power by acquiring the weapon: Australia’s E-7 Wedgetail.\n\nThe United States still doesn’t have one of these planes, but they might now have access to its capabilities thanks to the Albanese government, which sent one to support the US and their allies in their bombing campaign against Iran this week.\n\nThe E-7 Wedgetail has been _described in the Australian media_ humbly and as a “ _small contribution_”, along with the 85 ADF personnel to crew and maintain it and a batch of air-to-air missiles likely to be fired by UAE aircraft.\n\n“These are important defensive weapons,” the Prime Minister _told parliament_ this week, using precisely the same words _Defence Minister_ Richard Marles chose.\n\nWhat Australia’s political leaders and media haven’t told the public is that the Wedgetail is “fundamental to projecting air power and winning conflicts,” according to _the letter_ sent to Congress by some of the most decorated US Air Force commanders alive.\n\nThe truth is, it is easily the most significant contribution Australia could make to Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu’s illegal, objective-less and chaotic war on Iran. Its unique capabilities mean the Wedgetail could quite literally help tip the balance of the war, if Australia allows its powers of surveillance, targeting and command to be used by Israel and the US – and there can no longer be any doubt that is exactly what the government will do.\n\n“Despite Mr Albanese’s diplomatic language that it will only be used for defence, the Wedgetail ...] will provide intelligence for US and Israeli air strikes,” the _Herald Sun_ [_reported_ this week, in what was intriguingly the only mainstream report that emphasised how valuable this would be.\n\nAnd it became clear that the initial request for the Wedgetail came directly from the US, even if the formal written invitation was from the UAE, after Foreign Minister Penny Wong _refused to answer questions_ to that effect six times.\n\n### This post is for subscribers only\n\nBecome a member to get access to all content\n\nSubscribe now",
  "title": "Australia is sending a weapon \"fundamental\" to winning wars, according to US generals",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-12T23:56:30.404Z"
}