USAF og JSTARS - Gamle fly skiftes ut med nytt og mindre - AIN

September 22, 2017

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Confusion Arises Over the JSTARS Recap Plan Senior U.S. Air Force leaders have suggested that the JSTARS recapitalization (e.g. replacement) may need rethinking, but they have also said that the current source selection process is on schedule and will continue. Speaking to media at the Air Force Association (AFA) Air, Space and Cyber Conference, the Air Combat Command (ACC) commander Gen. James Holman and the acquisition chief Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch said that the air defense threat to larger ISR platforms had increased, and that there might be other ways to acquire ground moving target indicator (GMTI) data, and to do battle management, command and control (BMC2).  Three contenders for the new JSTARS have submitted bids and are preparing best and final offers (BAFOs) with the expectation of source selection next March. Boeing has proposed its 737-700 airliner as the platform; Lockheed Martin favors the Bombardier Global 6000 business jet; and Northrop Grumman the Gulfstream G550 business jet. All three contenders are required to provide 10 onboard system operator stations, and to integrate new surveillance radars from either Raytheon or Northrop Grumman. The Air Force will make a separate choice of this primary sensor for JSTARS. Read More