Defense & Intelligence Policy, Business and Technology

Air Combat Command head: JSTARS recap may not be best option

Defense News: NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The Air Force’s decision on whether to cancel the JSTARS recap program will be driven, in part, by whether the service can provide a similar capability by networking together its existing platforms and sensors, the head of Air Combat Command said Monday.

Although the service remains in source selection for an aircraft to replace its E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, it announced last week that it was evaluating “alternative approaches for battlefield command and control that could be more effective in high-threat environments.”

If the Air Force decides to retain the capability of having a centralized battle management node in the skies, service leaders believe the current acquisition approach is the correct one, said Gen. Mike Holmes, head of Air Combat Command.

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