Norhtrop submits G550 JSTARS bid

Northrop is the first company to publicly announce that they have submitted a proposal to the Air Force for the E-8 recapitalization program. Their platform is based on the Gulfstream G550 business jet. Proposals were due March 2nd. Lockheed is apparently working with Bombardier, on a Global 6000 platform, and Boeing is working on a 737 based platform. Northrop was considering a G650 based platform, but decided the 550 was a better fit, based on the smaller size, and the fact that it is a more mature design.

Two proposals were submitted, using both radar systems. Northrop and Raytheon are both developing an AESA based, area radar system. Teams can submit bids with one, or both radar systems as part of the bid. NG feels that a business jet is the best platform for the mission, as it can get into more areas than a larger commercial platform can.

Northrop Grumman has settled on a Gulfstream G550 business jet proposal for the U.S. Air Force’s J-Stars recap competition, and submitted its bid to the service March 2.
Northrop, along with its partners Gulfstream and L3 Technologies, is the first of three potential teams to publicly acknowledge that it has submitted its bid for the J-Stars recap. Proposals were due to the Air Force March 2. Lockheed Martin is working with Bombardier on a proposal based on the Canadian company’s Global 6000 business jet; meanwhile, Boeing is offering a modified version of its 737-700 commercial airliner.

Northrop had been considering basing its J-Stars bid on the G650, a slightly bigger airframe, but decided the G550 was the “right-sized” platform for the program due to its performance and maturity, Northrop J-Stars lead Alan Metzger told Aviation Week March 2.

“We believe the G550 is the best-performing aircraft with the best balance of cost schedule and risk to go with that,” Metzger said.

aviationweek.com...

a reply to: Zaphod58

Cool stuff Zaphod. Upgrading surveillance craft; sounds like they wanted a more agile, smaller, and sturdier design?


Just a couple links with regard to the terminology and program for those interested:

AESA:

AESA

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_electronically_scanned_array


JSTARS:

JSTARS

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_E-8_Joint_STARS

a reply to: CreationBro

They're looking at a smaller, cheaper to operate and maintain platform. A smaller aircraft, like the G550, can operate in areas where the existing E-8C can't, while staying on station a similar amount of time as the E-8 does.