Story and photos by Airman 1st Class Jared Lovett
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs July 7, 2023
Aircrew of an E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft stand together following the platform’s final active duty flight at Ramstein Air Base, June 26. The men and women of the JSTARS team have been instrumental to overseas contingency operations, flying more than 85,000 combat hours in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector.
The 10th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron conducted its last active duty deployed aircrew mission on an E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft, at Ramstein Air Base, June 26.
After over 20 years of communicating real-time situational awareness of ground operations to the joint force, NATO partners and allies, the JSTARS will leave behind a long legacy, spanning as far back as Operation Desert Storm, as the Air Force transitions to more advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations platforms.
“A lot of these aircraft use technology from the 1950s and 1960s, but with this new platform being put into place, we’re going to take advantage of more advanced technologies, which will keep our Airmen out of danger,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Andrew Branch, 10th EACCS senior director.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Yosdue Valez-Perez, 10th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron crew chief, marshals a Northrop Grumman E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft at Ramstein Air Base, June 26. The JSTARS aircraft is being divested and replaced by a more advanced non-aircraft platform intended to keep Airmen safer. The divestment is a result of an ongoing effort to modernize the Air Force’s command and control capabilities.
The active duty aircrew will return to their home station at Robins AFB, Georgia, June 29, and their work will be handed over to Georgia Air National Guard personnel at the 116th Air Control Wing, who will complete the dissolution of the JSTARS aircraft.
“The Guard will carry on the mission just as the active component did,” said Capt. Isaac Carluccio, 10th EACCS mission planning chief.
The new system taking the place of the JSTARS is the Tactical Operations Center, which is currently being set up at Robins AFB. This new system provides Airmen more latitude to conduct ISR operations from a ground location.
“This is a historic moment,” said Branch. “A lot of units don’t work together as closely as we do at Robins Air Force Base. There are some challenges that come with it but at the end of the day, we all come together and make sure that the mission is successful.”
An E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft taxis at Ramstein Air Base, June 26. The JSTARS aircraft, which is deployed to Ramstein Air Base from the Georgia Air National Guard’s 116th Air Control Wing at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is an airborne battle management, command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform. Until now, JSTARS were operated by Guardsmen from the 116th ACW, active duty Airmen assigned to the 461st Air Control Wing and the U.S. Army’s 138th Military Intelligence Company.
U.S. Air Force 1st. Lt. Brionna Trevillion, 10th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron air weapons officer, walks towards her final flight as part of the active duty aircrew of an E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft at Ramstein Air Base, June 26.
U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 10th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron walk toward a Northrop Grumman E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System for the final active duty aircrew flight for the aircraft at Ramstein Air Base, June 26. The JSTARS aircraft is being divested and taken over by a more advanced platform intended to keep Airmen safer.
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