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Pentagon Oks first step in replacing aging US spy planes

Iran Press TV

Sun Dec 13, 2015 9:14AM

The Pentagon has approved the next step in a program to replace the US Air Force's aging fleet of spy and battle aircraft, spokeswoman Maureen Schumann says.

The Defense Department's chief arms buyer has given the go-ahead to implement the "Milestone A" phase of the long-awaited multibillion-dollar competition to replace the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) aircraft, Schumann said on Friday.

The decision was made after Frank Kendall--undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics--signed a memorandum this week approving the plan, she added.

That makes it possible to fund demonstrations of the new aircraft, according to two sources familiar with the decision, who also said the Pentagon is not going to use unmanned aircraft, Reuters reported.

The Pentagon's fiscal 2017 budget request would include funding for the program, one of the sources said.

Republican Representative Tom Graves from Georgia described the move as a "significant step" in replacing the aging fleet with next-generation planes.

"I am confident that the Defense Department understands JSTARS is a major priority for Congress and will complete the process of updating the JSTARS fleet in a timely manner," Graves said.

Graves and other US lawmakers have urged the Pentagon to speed up replacing its fleet of JSTARS aircraft, which has flown over 100,000 combat hours and its service life is coming to an end.

In a letter dated Nov. 20, Graves and 59 other members of two key defense committees in Congress expressed their concern to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter. "Replacing the existing fleet with next-generation aircraft is essential, which is why we want to ensure that the critical mission performed by the JSTARS team is not jeopardized by a lengthy acquisition process."

Presently, three teams are competing to undertake the project; Northrop Grumman Corp, which manufactured the current planes and is teaming up with General Dynamics Corp; Lockheed Martin Corp, which is cooperating with Raytheon Co. and Canada's Bombardier; as well as Boeing Co.