The Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman $12.5 million to begin the engineering process to replace the engines on the service’s fleet of E-8 Joint STARS ground surveillance aircraft. Pratt & Whitney is supplying the JT8D-219 engines.
The Air Force could conduct an operation like Israel's successful air campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, military leadership and air defenses, but readiness issues would make it risky, airpower experts said. Limited spare parts and training, low mission capable rates and few flying hours would put a drag on USAF's…