Davesky Posted July 5, 2018 Posted July 5, 2018 Hope everyone had a great 4th! Does anyone have an idea of what the future of JSTARS looks like? Seems like an interesting mission and wondering what would happen if I dropped E-8s. Would this be disadvantageous considering they're planning on retiring the E-8 in the coming years? Currently they have no plans/budget for replacement aircraft correct?
SurelySerious Posted July 5, 2018 Posted July 5, 2018 Hey @HuggyU2, how many times have we tried retiring the U-2? I wouldn’t base your dream sheet on whether the Air Force thinks it might retire the JSTARS this week. If you think you will enjoy the mission, go for it.
BroncoEN Posted July 5, 2018 Posted July 5, 2018 At one point the Gulfstream was in the running to replace the JSTARS... not sure how that panned out... but that sounds like the best 'forced crossover due to E-8 retirement' ever. Then again, maybe I'm thinking of the G550 replacing a different aircraft.
ThreeHoler Posted July 5, 2018 Posted July 5, 2018 Last I saw they turned that off. The Gulfstream is still slated to replace the EC-130 though.
MooseAg03 Posted July 5, 2018 Posted July 5, 2018 I saw an article about Offutt keeping their C-135 variants flying until the 2030s (maybe later, I can’t find the article again). The Air Force can’t afford to replace the E-8 anytime soon.
HuggyU2 Posted July 5, 2018 Posted July 5, 2018 6 hours ago, SurelySerious said: Hey @HuggyU2, how many times have we tried retiring the U-2? Hard to keep track... numerous times. PBD-720 was the big attempt: it started retiring U-2 airframes in 2007 with the last jet gone in 2011. That got rolled to 2008... then 2009... then 2011... etc.. 1
McGuiness Posted July 5, 2018 Posted July 5, 2018 All the articles I’ve read suggest that the plan is to get rid of them by 2023.
YoungnDumb Posted July 6, 2018 Posted July 6, 2018 1 hour ago, McGuiness said: All the articles I’ve read suggest that the plan is to get rid of them by 2023. Much like the BUFF was supposed to be gone by what 1970? 1980? 1990? 2000? 2010? I'll believe it's gone when it's at the boneyard.
Majestik Møøse Posted July 6, 2018 Posted July 6, 2018 2 hours ago, McGuiness said: All the articles I’ve read suggest that the plan is to get rid of them by 2023. There is no plan to retire the U-2. 1
SFG Posted July 6, 2018 Posted July 6, 2018 (edited) 11 hours ago, ThreeHoler said: Last I saw they turned that off. The Gulfstream is still slated to replace the EC-130 though. What’s the timeline on the EC replacement? edit: never mind. Google founds it. Looks like things are on hold while Boeing, Bombardier, and L3 protest so... who knows. edit 2: blast. Tricked by Google timestamp. I guess L3 has the contract and needs to work out a contract for the GS? Edited July 6, 2018 by Klepto
UDEL09 Posted July 6, 2018 Posted July 6, 2018 18 minutes ago, Klepto said: What’s the timeline on the EC replacement? edit: never mind. Google founds it. Looks like things are on hold while Boeing, Bombardier, and L3 protest so... who knows. G550 has been greenlighted with two airplanes already ordered to replace the EC. The plan is to continue acquiring one airframe per year as we slowly replace and retire the EC-130H. The timeline is still fluid but there is no longer a hold on the contract.
SFG Posted July 6, 2018 Posted July 6, 2018 4 hours ago, UDEL09 said: G550 has been greenlighted with two airplanes already ordered to replace the EC. The plan is to continue acquiring one airframe per year as we slowly replace and retire the EC-130H. The timeline is still fluid but there is no longer a hold on the contract. How does the EC community feel about that? Guessing 2025ish is the end date?
Ziplip Posted July 6, 2018 Posted July 6, 2018 23 hours ago, Davesky said: Hope everyone had a great 4th! Does anyone have an idea of what the future of JSTARS looks like? Seems like an interesting mission and wondering what would happen if I dropped E-8s. Would this be disadvantageous considering they're planning on retiring the E-8 in the coming years? Currently they have no plans/budget for replacement aircraft correct? The plan right now is we start sending aircraft to the boneyard starting next year but continue to fly the JSTARS until 2025+, not sure on the number per year that will be retired though. As for the RECAP, it is yet again in limbo. Air Force wants to kill it but Congress was fighting to keep it going. Last RUMINT I heard though was a lot of the support RECAP was getting from Congress was lost when they announced ABMS would be put at Robins.
FishBowl Posted July 6, 2018 Posted July 6, 2018 GA Congress folk pretty much stopped fighting for recap since ABMS will be in their state. From COMACC, 2 to the boneyard FY19, then 1 a year until the last two FYs when it’ll be 2/year. That was a few months ago, but still sounds like it’s the plan.
WheelzUp Posted July 6, 2018 Posted July 6, 2018 2 hours ago, FishBowl said: GA Congress folk pretty much stopped fighting for recap since ABMS will be in their state. Not 100 percent true...reference this article written two days ago.https://amp.macon.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article214309864.html A small recap option (less than 17 jets) is currently being discussed in Congress in order to address the capability gap that will exist after divestment of the E-8, and before ABMS comes online. This limited recap option sounds like it may actually have some traction. For the original poster, if you wanna fly JSTARS, come on down and do it! The jet will be around for 6-9 more years, and after that, you’ll get to fly something else. Good luck dude. Wheelz 1
Naviguesser Posted July 7, 2018 Posted July 7, 2018 I read that as Congress didn't want ABMs (13Bs) in Georgia. Which is understandable. 2 2
Prosuper Posted July 7, 2018 Posted July 7, 2018 707's are getting real hard to find parts for which the E-8 is, most of its parts especially engines and hydraulics are not compatible with the E-3 or E-6 jets. No a KC-135 is not the same. The only other fliers are Qtanker and the Iranians.
Lawman Posted July 7, 2018 Posted July 7, 2018 The Air Force (and they aren’t alone) has truly been missing the forest for the trees over the last 2 decades ignoring all the mission speciality 707 aircraft who thanks to the march of technology could have been replaced effectively with a modular designed package capable aircraft ala commercial civilian aircraft. Instead we are chasing the bleeding edge of fighter/bomber technology and ignoring the fact that JSTARS and other like aircraft are critical both in the current fight and the big scary one we are supposedly preparing for. 1
SurelySerious Posted July 7, 2018 Posted July 7, 2018 2 hours ago, Lawman said: Instead we are chasing the bleeding edge of ...bomber technology Hahahahahaha yeah. With the B-52 still in the late 80s. The Apaches have outpaced almost the entire AF fleet by three decades in tech. The whole AF is hurting man.
Lawman Posted July 7, 2018 Posted July 7, 2018 (edited) 6 hours ago, SurelySerious said: Hahahahahaha yeah. With the B-52 still in the late 80s. The Apaches have outpaced almost the entire AF fleet by three decades in tech. The whole AF is hurting man. Yeah but there is a multi billion dollar program for a new bomber (really 5th gen F-111) funded and working. Meanwhile stuff like RC-135... And it’s not service unique. We do the same stuff in the Army (hello OH-58/Shadow) Edited July 7, 2018 by Lawman
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