E-8A JSTARS (USAF)
United States Air Force

E-8A Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS)
Operator: 4411th J-STARS Squadron (JSS) Provisional
Location: Melbourne, Florida
Timeframe: 1995-1998

Personal Interest:
This model represents the Joint STARS developmental aircraft flown out of Northrop-Grumman's facility in Melbourne, FL. I routinely provided aviation weather support for JSTARS during my tour at Patrick AFB. The E-8 developmental aircraft participated in Operation Joint Endeavor, a NATO peacekeeping mission, in December 1995. While flying in friendly air space, the test bed JSTARS aircraft monitored ground movements to confirm compliance with the Dayton Peace Accords agreements. Crews flew 95 consecutive operational sorties and more than 1,000 flight hours with a 98% mission effectiveness rate. Operation Allied Force saw JSTARS in action again from February to June 1999, after the aircraft had been transferred to the 93rd ACW at Robins AFB, Georgia. The JSTARS accumulated more than 1,000 flight hours and a 94.5% mission-effectiveness rate in support of the U.S.-lead Kosovo War.