Lockheed E-8C replacement plans revealed

Lockheed had planned to reduce the battle management staff on their E-8C replacement to 7, and said they could have gone as low as 2. The current aircraft requires 18 crew, and the Air Force wanted to reduce that to 14 before canceling the program.

Part of Lockheed's drive to automate the battle management system is the Einstein Box, which has been flown on the U-2. According to John Clark, Skunk Works ISR VP, they have reached TRL-6. This also helps to explain the drive for ABMS instead of the E-8 replacement.

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