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Northrop Grumman's E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack RadarSystem (Joint STARS) testbed aircraft, equipped with a new JT-8Dpropulsion system, has successfully completed flight testing andmoved one step closer to receiving its Military AirworthinessCertification. The completion of the flight testing program signifies a majormilestone in the Joint STARS Re-engining program and is a keycomponent of the Military Airworthiness Certification process. Thenew propulsion system includes Pratt and Whitney JT-8D enginespreviously certified by the FAA for Boeing 707-300 aircraft, aswell as mounting pylons and other provisions supplied bySevenQSeven and a specialized pneumatic system to support the largeground surveillance radar and other mission equipment carriedonboard the aircraft. The Military Airworthiness Certification process is comprised offlight tests, data analysis and approval for the propulsion systemto be used on operational aircraft such as those that supportworldwide operations out of Robins Air Force Base, Ga. JT-8DPropulsion System Military Airworthiness Certification opens thedoor for the operational aircraft fleet to be outfitted with newengines. A key enabling factor for the certification process was theexecution of a risk mitigation program during the development andinstallation of the Propulsion Pod System. A total of 808 testswere completed, many of which were concurrent with other JointSTARS programs. The testing regimen improved the efficiency of theflight test program. Originally, the test program had planned for39 total flights, but was accomplished in just 32 flights, a 20percent reduction. "The men and women of Northrop Grumman and our Air Force teammatesdid an amazing job assuring the successful completion of JT-8Dflight test program," said Bryan Lima, director, Joint STARSdevelopment and modernization programs for Northrop Grumman. "Theefficiencies and risk management of the test flight programdirectly impacted the reduction in certification flights needed andsaved the government time and money." Outfitting the fleet with new engines will give the U.S. AirForce-owned platform increased takeoff performance, longertime-on-station and higher maximum altitudes for increased missioncapable rates. In addition, the new engines will lower maintenancecosts and save money through greater fuel efficiency. In 2011, Northrop Grumman was awarded a new $540 million TotalSystem Support Responsibility (TSSR) contract. Under the TSSRprogram, Northrop Grumman is partnered with the Warner Robins AirLogistics Center (WRALC) to provide integrated logistics support tothe 116th and 461st Air Control Wings, for all facets of base anddepot level maintenance. For over a decade, Northrop Grumman hasbeen providing comprehensive and integrated performance-basedlogistics (PBL) support, in the United States and at its forwardoperating locations. Last October, the Joint STARS Total System Support Responsibilityteam, comprised of the Air Force C2ISR Aerospace SustainmentDirectorate, WRALC and Northrop Grumman, was honored by the U.S.Secretary of Defense with the 2011 Performance-Based LogisticsSystem Level Beck Award for outstanding achievements in providingwarfighters with exceptional operational capability through PBLagreements and are examples of "better buying power" in action. The first E-8C Joint STARS was delivered to the Air Force in 1996,and the last fully configured aircraft was delivered in 2005. TheJoint STARS fleet is the only all-weather, long-range, real-time,wide area surveillance and battle management and command andcontrol weapons system in the U.S. arsenal. It combines accurate wide-area moving target detection withsynthetic aperture radar imagery to locate, classify and trackground targets in all weather conditions from standoff distances.Joint STARS offers battlefield commanders real-time situationalinformation, while simultaneously transmitting target locations toaircraft and ground strike forces. The E-8C has accumulated nearly 80,000 combat hours supportingoperations, including recent support to Operation New Dawn overIraq and Operation Odyssey Dawn over Libya, and ongoing support toOperation Enduring Freedom over Afghanistan. It has also beencalled to support theater operations in Southeast Asia. The fleetis flown by the 116th and 461st Air Control Wings based in WarnerRobins. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Dual Band Repeater Manufacturer , Bug Camera Detector for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Remote Control Jammer.
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