{"id":36063,"date":"2018-07-13T14:21:01","date_gmt":"2018-07-13T14:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/07\/13\/its-time-to-kill-jstars\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:57:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:57:39","slug":"its-time-to-kill-jstars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2018\/07\/13\/its-time-to-kill-jstars\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s time to kill JSTARS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A message to Congress: It\u2019s time to kill the JSTARS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s be clear: What you have in the E\u22128C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System<\/a> is a system that no longer meets the needs of modern warfare \u2014 at least not as effectively as alternatives that can take advantage of the extensive advancements that have happened during the last three decades. One can argue for modernization efforts that act as Band-Aids until a new platform can be operational \u2014 which is ultimately one part of the plan put forth by the U.S. Air Force when they first announced plans to scrap the recap. But investing in a new version of the aircraft simply boxes the service into a legacy approach to a segment of warfare that hinges on advanced technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of this is about preserving jobs in certain congressional districts; it always is \u2014 a concept that needs to be identified as the albatross that it is. This is why earmarks got banned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it’s also a reflection of members of Congress looking too near term. Invest in a new platform now, and restrict the Air Force’s ability to invest in a more advanced platform later. Why would they bother? It would be a huge investment that would be near impossible to rationalize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve written in past editorials that the Pentagon and Congress alike need to let programs die when their time has come. That\u2019s particularly true when advanced technology is a factor, as it is here. At least in the case of the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical system, or WIN-T, the Army was cleared to halt the program, knowing funds would be better filtered to capabilities that could deliver a more survivable, mobile and hardened tactical network. Of course, networking technology doesn\u2019t translate to big production lines, so shutting it down is easier for Congress to get behind. JSTARS is more complicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\t