At stake is an $800 million re-engining program for the fleet of 17 aircraft. The program appeared certain some months ago, but funding pressures are making people in the 116th Air Control Wing at Robins Air Force Base more than a little edgy. The 116th, the largest flying activity at Robins, is the Air Force's only Joint STARS wing.
"We are very concerned about the future of the re-engining program," confirmed Lt. Col. Tom Grabowski, director of plans and programs for the base unit. "We're very concerned about what the Air Force decision is going to be. We're in limbo. We're hoping for a decision by Aug. 15."
New engines are absolutely essential for the ground surveillance mainstay. Using a belly-mounted, 24-foot radar, Joint STARS aircraft can detect, identify and track ground targets over a 150-mile area. Eighteen mission crew members onboard the modified Boeing 707 airframe then analyze the data and communicate precise targeting information to airborne and ground commanders.
Joint STARS aircraft are heavily tasked in both Iraq and Afghanistan, proving to be an indispensable mainstay for ground troops. But aging, underpowered, cantankerous, mission-limiting engines are making that contribution more and more difficult.
The 40-year-old JT3D power plants force pilots to fly the aircraft at reduced power for fear of burning up an engine, take off with less fuel to reduce weight, in-flight refuel more often and spend less time over the target area. The old engines also generate marginal on-board power, greatly restricting the addition of new components including an enhanced radar. Maintenance crews report that engine malfunctions account for most of the downtime on the ground surveillance jet.
Air Force awarded a $300 million contract to Northrop Grumman in May of 2008 to complete the necessary engineering and flight test certifications for installing new JT8D engines on the Joint STARS testbed aircraft in Melbourne, Fla. The first test flight was conducted in December of last year. But the future is far from certain.
"The Air Force did not buy the engines on the testbed aircraft," Grabowski point out. "They are being leased and the Air Force still reserves the right to terminate the program."
Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga, visiting Robins Wednesday for a series of briefings, confirmed the uncertainty swirling around the re-engining program.
"We were told by the Air Force earlier this year not to worry about it," Chambliss said. "The Chief of Staff said it would get done. Now, six months later, the program is under consideration for cutbacks or elimination."
New engines are absolutely essential, he contends. "We can't continue to fly these airplanes without them," Chambliss said. "It's got to be done. The Air Force has been advised by every outside group that the aircraft have to be re-engined now."
The senior Georgia senator said no other platform -- including the growing fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles -- can replace what Joint STARS brings to the fight.
"But by the same token, the Air Force is under very tight budget constraints," Chambliss noted. "Look what happened to the F-22. That was purely budget driven. It had nothing to do with the capability of the aircraft."
The Air Force supports capping production of the F-22 -- the nation's newest and most capable air superiority fighter -- at 187 aircraft. Chambliss expects a more positive outcome for Joint STARS engines.
"We have some good language in the Senate version of the Defense Authorization Bill," he noted, "and as we go into the conference (committee session with the House), I'm reasonably optimistic that we will be able to keep that language on re-engining in the final bill."
Post a Comment