Northrop Grumman E-8C

Type (Muster)
Airborne ground-surveillance platform and command post (Plattform für die Gefechtsfeldüberwachung)

Country (Land)
USA

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Northrop Grumman Corp.
1840 Century Park East
Los Angeles, California 90067-2199

Phone: 001-310/553-6262
Fax: 001-310/556-4561

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 3 in the cockpit plus navigator and 18 mission crew for operating the sensor consoles. 13 more crew members possible as relief on long flights.

Power plant (Antrieb): 4 x Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3B turbojets
Thrust (Schub): 4 x 18000 lbs (4 x 80 kN)

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Length (Länge): 46,61 m
Height (Höhe): 12,95 m
Span (Spannweite): 44,42 m

Weights (Massen)
Empty (Leermasse): 77565 kg (171000 lbs)
Fuel (Kraftstoff): 70310 kg (155000 lbs)
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 152410 kg (336000 lbs)

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. speed (max. Geschwindigkeit): Mach 0.84
Service ceiling (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 42000 ft (12800 m)
Endurance (Einsatzdauer): 11 hrs standard, 20 hrs with air refuelling

Customers (Kunden)
The US Air Force planned the acquisition of a total of 20 JointSTARS, including two upgraded E-8As, but after recent defence reviews this number will probably be slashed to 13. A sales campaign for NATO to buy four to six E-8Cs, with European industry involvement, has failed for the time being. An E-8 derivative is also back in the running for the ASTOR requirement of the UK.

Costs (Kosten)
Flyaway cost stated as 266 million dollars per aircraft in 1996, but this in no way reflects total programme costs, which were estimated as 9,6 billion dollars, with further rises almost certain.

Competition (Konkurrenz)
In a way, the E-8C is unique, but the UK is currently evaluating bids for a less ambitious airborne surveillance capability from Lockhee Martin and Raytheon, which use the Global Express and Gulfstream V business jets respectively as platforms.

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
Series production E-8Cs are based on used Boeing 707-300 series airframes which are completely refurbished and "zero-timed" by Northrop Grumman at the Lake Charles facility with no less than 160000 new detail parts. Life expectancy is then 2000 missions and 20000 hrs over 30 years. Main sensor is the AN/APY-3 side-looking phased array radar with the large antenna mounted below the forward fuselage. It can be used in synthetic aperture mode for very detailed ground maps and in Doppler mode for detecting slow moving targets like cars and helicopters. Range is stated to be over 250 km, and JointSTARS can cover approximately 40000 sq km per minute. The onboard mission crew is managing and distributing the information, sending it to ground stations mainly for army use.
Development of the JointSTARS startet in September 1985, when Grumman got an FSD-contract. First flight in full configuration was on 22. December 1988. The second E-8A followed on 31. August 1989.
Extensive flight tests were far from complete when the two E-8As were sent to Saudi-Arabia for operations during the war against Iraq in 1991. During "Desert Storm", both aircraft performed 54 missions with a total of 535 flight hours. E-8As and the first E-8C (maiden flight 17. August 1995) were also used to monitor events in Bosnia from late 1995 to March 1996 (95 missions) and again from late 1996 to January 1997. In late October and early November 1997, the USAF operated an E-8C over South Korea as part of a Foal Eagle exercise.
On 24. April 1992, a low-rate initial production contract was let to Northrop Grumman, and JointSTARS was finally approved for full-rate production on September 25, 1996. The official delivery of the first series aircraft took place on 22. March 1996, and the second machine followed on 13. December 1996. The third was handed over on November 26, 1997.
Operating unit for JointSTARS is the new 93rd Air Control Wing, which was established at Warner Robins AFB in Georgia in January 1996. It comprises two operational squadrons (12th and 16th Air Control Sqaudron), a support squadron (93rd Operation Support Squadron) and a training squadron (93rd Training Squadron). Initial operational capability is scheduled for December 1997.

Last updated November 28, 1997

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