Northrop/Raytheon receive JSTARS replacement radar contracts

Both Northrop and Raytheon were awarded sole source contracts to develop radars for the E-8C replacement aircraft. One of the two radars will become the centerpiece of the new system. Northrop has only said they will offer an AESA based platform, with very few details. Raytheon will offer a radar based on the APS-154 Advanced Airborne Sensor developed for the P-8A.

Key to the new radar will be the ground moving target indicator, and synthetic aperture radar modes to help identify targets on the ground. According to sources, the Northrop radar will be able to identify groups of people on the ground.

The US air force is poised to award sole-source contracts to Raytheon and Northrop Grumman for further development of their competing active electronically scanned array radars as part of its Northrop Grumman E-8C JSTARS recapitalisation effort.

Once developed, one of the two radars will become the centrepiece of the air force’s next-generation surveillance and battle management airplane, which is to be based on a commercial business jet.

The intent of the programme is to replace the 707-based E-8C fleet, which averages 46 years old.

According to a “notice of contract action” published today, the air force identified two American-based radar manufactures capable of performing the work: Raytheon Space & Airborne Systems of Dallas, Texas and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems of Baltimore, Maryland.

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All to keep up with the F35 or they looking further down the road?

a reply to: Blackfinger

They're looking further. The E-8 was a game changer when it came in, and this will be an even bigger game changer.

Rubs hands greedily, whistles "We're in the Money".

a reply to: Zaphod58

Now if they can only figure out what to put it on.

a reply to: Sammamishman

It's interesting that no foreign companies were considered for the radar, but are for the platform.

a reply to: Sammamishman

*fingers crossed for the Bombardier Cseries*

The airframe entries:

Could this have something to do with it??

a reply to: ApeToe

Melbourne is where the E-8 was tested and developed, so I wouldn't be surprised if they work on the replacement there as well.

a reply to: Zaphod58

And suddenly, AF pilots service wide have collectively raised their ears to the prospect of getting a GV or GLEX type rating, taking that to a Fortune 500 flight department after their commitments are up, and cashing out. I predict that JSTARS won't seem like too bad of a deal in the future...

a reply to: Zaphod58

Raytheon was awarded $60M and Northrop Grumman was awarded $70M to develope and build radars to compete with each other as the next JSTARS radar. Both contracts are “no-to-exceed" contracts.

The winning bid will build 17 radars to be installed on what ever platform is finally selected.

According to the air force, the wide-looking radar must be able to detect and track “vehicles, slow-moving rotary and fixed wing aircraft, rotating antennas, jammers" as well as other dismount and stationary targets on land and at sea. Its synthetic aperture radar mode will be used for target location/tracking and terrain imaging.

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