The Air Force this week sent a draft request for proposals to industry for the next generation JSTARS, saying the full RFP is “in final coordination.” The Air Force on Tuesday evening released a memorandum to industry and a draft of the RFP “in support of the government’s continuing efforts to disseminate relevant program information to industry.” The draft RFP isn’t publicly released, though the actual request is expected to be released in the near future. The Air Force expects to award the contract for the aircraft in 2017, with possible initial operational capability coming in 2023. The Pentagon approved the recapitalization program in December, and several stakeholders including industry and Congress are pressing the service to move faster. Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman have all discussed their proposals for the JSTARS Recap. The Air Force is separately pursuing “risk reduction” development efforts with both Northrop Grumman and Raytheon on the radar which JSTARS Recap will carry, and the primes have been advised to look at both radars for potential inclusion in their proposals. (See also: The JSTARS Recap from the February 2015 issue of Air Force Magazine.)
Pentagon Task Force, FAA to Test Counter-Drone Laser
March 7, 2026
The Pentagon’s counter-drone task force announced it would conduct a high-energy laser test with the Federal Aviation Administration less than a month after the use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border prompted the FAA to shut down the airspace over El Paso, Texas.