Boeing/Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint STARS
Summary
| Category | Other aircraft |
| Origin country | 🇺🇸 United States |
| First flight | 1 January 1994 |
| Year of introduction | 1996 |
| Number produced | 17 units |
| Average unit price | $250 million |
Description
The E-8 Joint STARS (Surveillance Target Attack Radar System) is an airborne platform for command and surveillance of ground targets. Its main mission is to monitor the situation of ground threats in a theater of operations and assist and guide allied ground forces.
Based on the structure of a Boeing 707-300, the J-STARS is equipped with a Norden AN/APY-3 radar, with its antenna located in an 8-meter long radome under the fuselage. This multimode radar can detect moving targets within a radius of 500 square kilometers, up to a distance of 250 kilometers, and can create accurate maps of an entire region. The E-8 can track a large number of vehicles simultaneously, including in severe electronic jamming situations, distinguishing between tanks, trucks, mobile antennas, etc. In a typical 8-hour mission, 1 million square kilometers can be scanned. Two E-8A pre-production aircraft were used in January 1991 during Operation Desert Storm. The final production version, the E-8C, became operational in 1996, and 12 units have been delivered to the US Air Force, with five more under construction.
By 2012-2014, the Joint STARS will likely be replaced by a new surveillance platform combining the capabilities of the E-8 and the E-3 Sentry AWACS: the E-10 MC2A.
Technical specifications
| Version: E-8 Joint STARS | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 24 to 40 |
| Maximum speed | 853 km/h (530 mph) |
| Wing area | 283.4 m² (3050.0 sqft) |
| Wingspan | 44.4 m (145.7 ft) |
| Height | 13.0 m (42.5 ft) |
| Length | 46.6 m (152.9 ft) |
| Service ceiling | 12802 m (42001 ft) |
| Empty weight | 77564 kg (170999 lbs) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 152407 kg (336000 lbs) |
| Powerplant | 4 × turbojets Pratt & Whitney TF33-102C delivering 8709 kgp |
Current operating countries
| Country | Units | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
United States | 14 | |
Numbers in parentheses, e.g. '(+5)', indicate units ordered but not yet delivered.
All operators
Photo of E-8 Joint STARS
