The U.S. Air Force has taken the first step toward a rapid acquisition of Boeing’s E-7A Wedgetail airborne warning and control aircraft to replace the aging E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System, or AWACS.Senior Air Force leaders, at Air Space Cyber Conference, said they were looking favorably at replacing the E-3 with the E-7A Wedgetail, given its lower operating cost and non-developmental status.