Joint STARS Future rests between rock and hard place

The Warner Robins Patriot ^ | September 29, 2009 | GENE RECTOR

[Never on my watch]

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE - Frankly, the future of Joint STARS at Robins Air Force Base is sitting precariously between a rock and a hard place.

On one side, the cantankerous, underpowered, 40-year-old JT3D engines that power the ground surveillance jet must be replaced in short order. Heroic -- and very expensive -- maintenance to keep the vital system flying can't continue indefinitely. Degraded aircraft availability, diminished flight efficiency and inadequate onboard power will eventually push the weapon system past the point of viability.

On the other hand, the rising cost of re-engining...

[Never on my watch]

I suspect Joint STARS is going to be a near term casualty of Obama's distain for the military. There is, however, a good debate to be had over the long term use of the 707 Joint STARS platform v. the Global Hawk unmanned system. But I would hate to see that the transition to this be driven by the failure to re-engine the planes. Our guys are flying these planes now and the engines are on their last legs. A billion $ sounds like a lot, but it will make this weapon system safer and extend the operational life considerably. Meanwhile we can continue to develop the unmanned follow on.

[phormer phrog phlyer]

JT8’s have been around for along time and are not very current. Why can’t they put a more current CFM’s like are on the KC-135’s?

[phormer phrog phlyer]

JT8’s have been around for along time and are not very current. Why can’t they put a more current CFM’s like are on the KC-135’s?

[phormer phrog phlyer]

Sorry for the double post.

[Zap Brannigan]

Rather than having new JT8D’s manufactured from a dormant production line, wouldn’t it be easier to:

(1) install CFM-56’s like on the KC-135R’s and DC-8(70 series). Those engines are still being made for 737’s; or

(2) buy some old DC-9’s and MD-80’s and pull the JT8D’s off.

[Never on my watch]

When the process to re-engine the plane started, The JT8s were probably the newest technology. ;)

I am not sure about all of the technical considerations, but the E-8 is a heavy SOB with a lot of electronics equipment requiring a lot of engine driven generators. Maybe the JT8s met that need better?

[Squantos]

Park Air Force One for a week an we can pay for a new JSTAR’s .......

[InterceptPoint]

Joint STARS is the imaging radar. Correct?

[Never on my watch]

It is a converted 707 with a phased array radar in a canoe-shape radome on the underside of the aircraft used for tracking ground targets.

[UNGN]

AA and Delta have hundreds of -219 JT8d's that will be parked in the Desert in the next few years. Re-engining these planes with "new" engines makes no sense. A 15 year old engine in a 40 year old aiframe IS a "new" engine.

put in new LLP's and wear components and slap them on. It shouldn't cost more than 2-3 million/engine.

3 million X 4 Engines X 20 Aircraft (spares) = $240 Million, leaving $3/4 Billion for "integration" and "profit".

[Never on my watch]

I can’t tell you why the only engine options on the table seem to be ‘new JT8s or retire the plane.’ But I am sure the engineering studies that would go into other engine alternatives at this late stage would be far too late to meet the need.

And with a a 40 year old airframe, new wings and fusalage/structure repaires will be needed in the not too distant future.

[TXnMA]

JSTARS is a real antique. As long as we plan to continue to put a manned system up for enemies to shoot down, the most logical choice, IMHO, would be to move the electronics suite into a larger, newer civilian airframe. It’s not like there aren’t plenty of newer airliners around.

[Never on my watch]

There was a plan for that on a 767. I think it was going to be called an E-10. Don’t know what happened to that initiative. I am sure it is DOA while Obama is in office. You can bet that there won’t be any movement on it while next generation tanker saga drags on.