E-8C JSTARS flew a networked anti-shipping scenario with Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft during Exercise Boar’s Nest recently at Robins AFB, Ga. “This exercise showed that the JSTARS manned platform and the P-8 provided an amazing capability to detect, locate, and classify maritime targets when the two aircraft are linked in together working cooperatively,” exercise planner Capt. Clayton Gibbs said in a release. “Our timeline to successfully interdict enemy maritime targets was significantly shortened using our collective capability,” added Lt. Col. Victor Ellis, 116th Air Control Wing liaison to the Navy during the exercise. JSTARS aircraft also acted as command and control for the exercise, directing F-18, F-22, and F-35 strike aircraft during the large-force employment exercise, which included 55 aircraft and 20 joint-force units, Aug. 18-22.
In the wake of a major Chinese military shakeup, the head of U.S. Space Command warned of China’s “breathtakingly fast” advances in space during visits to Japan and South Korea. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting’s trip to the Indo-Pacific is his first overseas visit since taking command of SPACECOM in January.