USAF E-9A Widget Range Support Aircraft Receives First Full Repaint in a Decade

The E-9A supports air-to-air weapon systems evaluation at Tyndall AFB providing range clearance, telemetry support and data relay.

The U.S. Air Force’s E-9A Widget firing range safety and surveillance aircraft completed its first strip and paint job in over a decade during a series of scheduled upgrades and maintenance, announced on Jul. 31, 2025 the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC). Led by the E-9A Program Office at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma, the multi-contractor effort saw the work “completed on schedule and under budget, preserving operational timelines and maintaining aircraft performance and crew safety.” Contents The E-9A supports air-to-air weapon systems evaluation at Tyndall AFB providing range clearance, telemetry support and data relay. E-9A Widget Stri