Mar 15, 2011 15:05 UTC
Latest updates: New sensor options; Major battle brewing over J-STARS future.
E-8C JSTARS Connectivity
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The USA’s 17-plane E-8C J-STARS fleet’s ability to monitor enemy ground movements over very wide areas, while seeing through problematic weather conditions, has made it an invaluable contributor to every US military ground campaign over the last 15+ years. The fleet has no real counterpart elsewhere in the world, which makes it an international class asset for America’s entire alliance structure. All Boeing 707 family E-8 Joint STARS aircraft are assigned to the Georgia Air National Guard’s 116th Air Control Wing at Robins Air Force Base, GA, a “total-force blended wing” with active-duty Air Force, Army and Air National Guard personnel.
An asset like that needs to be kept current, or replaced with something that is. E-8 planes have received both system upgrades and initial re-engining program efforts, in order to improve aircraft readiness and operating costs. Now, there seems to be a glimmer of light with respect to its radar capabilities – and perhaps other capabilities as well:
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