The U.S. Air Force has finalized a deal with Boeing for the E-7 Wedgetail radar plane, with negotiations led by former Pentagon official Shay Assad. This agreement covers the production of prototypes as the Air Force transitions from the E-3 Sentry AWACS planes. Despite challenges and disagreements over pricing, both parties have now reached a reasonable price point and aim to formalize the contract in August. Boeing's success in this deal is crucial as it signals a boost to its defense business, with potential international interest in the E-7 aircraft as a replacement for aging fleets like NATO's E-3 planes.