JSTARS Recap reaches Milestone A

Published Dec. 11, 2015
By Justin Oakes
66th Air Base Group Public Affairs

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Following a seven-month Materiel Solution Analysis phase, JSTARS Recapitalization program was granted a Milestone A decision by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics.

On Dec. 10 the Air Force received OSD-level approval with the signing of a Milestone A acquisition decision memorandum, officially ushering the program into the Technology Maturation Risk Reduction phase.

"This is a significant step toward the future of recapitalizing a combat-proven weapon system," said Col. David Learned, JSTARS Recap senior materiel leader. "We're in a great position as we continue risk reduction efforts and gain a better understanding of what each industry competitor has to offer."

The E8-C JSTARS is a command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft that is able to detect and track ground, sea and aerial targets; and while it remains a valued asset to combatant commanders, the aging 16-plane fleet is in need of an update.

The Milestone A decision comes in time to execute the options on three previously awarded pre-engineering, manufacturing and development contracts.

The six-month options will allow for system functional reviews, preliminary design reviews as well as subsystem prototype demonstrations. The combined value of the options is estimated at approximately $45 million.

While there are only three companies with current contracts, Learned emphasized that the EMD contract would be a separate, full and open competition; a draft request for proposal is expected to be released in spring for industry feedback.

Defense contractors will be working to modernize four core elements of the JSTARS weapons system: a communication system, a radar system, a battle management C2 suite and the airframe itself (a series of articles will be released following this announcement highlighting each of the core components).

JSTARS Recap has achieved two milestone decisions within a seven-month period -- considerably fast given the size of the program, the program manager said.

"Milestone A wouldn't have happened without the full support and outstanding teamwork between the Air Force and OSD," Learned said.

The decision to move JSTARS Recapitalization into Milestone A confirms what Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James has consistently noted.

"We are committed to a JSTARS replacement as soon as realistically possible," the Secretary said.