Northrop Grumman continues Joint STARS support
Northrop Grumman to execute Total System Support Responsibility in 2021 across the E-8C fleet.
The USAF has renewed its contract with Northrop Grumman for support of the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS).
The latest $325 million deal for support services in 2021 follows a $309 million contract in 2020.
Northrop Grumman is prime systems integrator for all nine support and sustainment components across the USAF Joint STARS fleet, which totals 17 aircraft according to Shephard Defence Insight.
Janice Zilch, VP of manned airborne surveillance programmes at Northrop Grumman, said: ‘The overall modification and sustainment work will ensure continuous safety and system readiness for the E-8C fleet against evolving threat environments.’
Joint STARS delivers real-time battle management situational awareness by combining high-fidelity wide-area moving target detection, synthetic aperture radar imagery and robust battle management systems to locate, classify and track surface targets in all weather conditions from standoff distances.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![AFA 2026: USAF examines uncrewed cargo aircraft for contested logistics]()
AFA 2026: USAF examines uncrewed cargo aircraft for contested logistics
The US Air Force is evaluating demonstrators for uncrewed cargo missions as it considers logistics requirements across the Pacific and other contested environments.
-
![Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad]()
Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad
European counter-drone developers are securing early orders in the Middle East while slow domestic acquisition processes threaten to redirect production capacity, expertise and investment away from Europe.
-
![India’s rotary-wing capability gap grows as IMRH programme delays persist]()
India’s rotary-wing capability gap grows as IMRH programme delays persist
With IMRH and DBMRH potentially years from service, India faces a widening rotary-wing capability gap that could drive further foreign purchases even as HAL and Safran build the foundations of an indigenous successor.
-
![AFA 2026: Swarm Aero eyes 2027 Gamera flight as Textron/Merlin reveal SkyCourier UX]()
AFA 2026: Swarm Aero eyes 2027 Gamera flight as Textron/Merlin reveal SkyCourier UX
Two new uncrewed aircraft concepts target very different US military requirements, from massed long-range strike to autonomous logistics. Shephard spoke with executives from Swarm Aero, Textron Aviation and Merlin Labs at this year's AFA Air, Space & Cyber conference to learn more about their capabilities.
-
![US Navy moves EA-18G Growler Block II electronic-attack upgrade into full-rate production]()
US Navy moves EA-18G Growler Block II electronic-attack upgrade into full-rate production
A US$184.25 million contract for Next Generation Electronic Attack Units advances the Growler’s modernisation as the US Navy confronts ageing systems, parts shortages and obsolescence.
