USAF's JSTARS Sunset celebration
On 4 November 2023, as expected, the 116th Air Control Wing bid farewell to the Boeing E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) aircraft.
On the above mentioned date, GA coded E-8C, with serial number 02-9111 took off during the JSTARS Sunset celebration at Robins AFB (GA). On 28 September 2023, Scramble Magazine wrote about 02-9111 being the last JSTARS to shut off its engines. Although a ceremonial last flight was held above Georgia, it is of note that the E-8C returned to Robins.
It is unknown to Scramble what will eventually happen to the aircraft. The same applies to the 116th ACW with subordinated 128th ACCS and 461st ACW with subordinated 12th ACCS, 16th ACCS and 330th CTS unit designations. At this moment, there is no need for the USAF to maintain these former JSTARS units.
For the past 21 years, Robins based E-8s had been deployed every day, flying more than 14.259 operational sorties equaling 141.169 flying hours in support of every US combatant command around the world. While in support of those commands, the JSTARS acted as an airborne ground surveillance and battle management aircraft. While flying with unprecedented capacities, it detected, located, classified, tracked and targeted ground movements on the battlefield and communicated real-time information through secure data links with US command posts.
Credit photo: USAF / Credit patch: www.aviatorgear.com