The Air Force has awarded an “up-to” $532 million contract to Northrop Grumman to make improvements to the E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) aircraft. The work will include enhancements to communications, navigation, surveillance, air traffic management, mobile target tracking—much in demand by ground forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom—joint tactical radio systems, advanced radar systems, and airborne networking. USAF can expend the entire amount, but officials believe the actual work will come in under the top dollar. It’s to be completed by December 2011.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.