E-8C

FILE PHOTO -- The E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System is the only airborne platform in operation that can maintain realtime surveillance over a corps-sized area of the battlefield. A joint Air Force - Army program, the Joint STARS uses a multi-mode side looking radar to detect, track, and classify moving ground vehicles in all conditions deep behind enemy lines. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Final Joint STARS aircraft delivered

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Officials of the 116th Air Control Wing here received the 17th and final E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft March 23. The wing is the only unit to fly the aircraft. The Joint STARS aircraft is the world's most advanced wide-area airborne ground surveillance, targeting and battle management system. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Mary Smith)

Joint Stars

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- An E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System from the 93rd Air Control Wing flies a refueling mission over the skies of Georgia. The Department of Defense will soon deploy Joint STARS and Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle surveillance systems over the Afghan theater of operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The E-8C is an airborne battle management and command and control platform that conducts ground surveillance to develop an understanding of the enemy situation and to support attack operations and targeting that contributes to the delay, disruption and destruction of enemy forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. John Lasky)

J-STARS

E-8C JOINT STARS

Current as of December 18, 2025

MISSION
The E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) is an airborne battle management, command and control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform. Its primary mission is to provide theater ground and air commanders with ground surveillance to support attack operations and targeting that contributes to the delay, disruption, and destruction of enemy forces.

FEATURES
The E-8C is a modified Boeing 707-300 series commercial airframe extensively modified with the radar, communications, operations, and control subsystems required to perform its operational mission.

The most prominent external feature is the 27-foot-long, canoe-shaped radome under the forward fuselage that houses the 24-foot-long, side-looking phased array antenna.

The radar and computer subsystems on the E-8C can gather and display detailed battlefield information on ground forces. The information is relayed in near-real-time to the Army and Marine Corps common ground stations and to other ground command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) nodes.

The antenna can be tilted to either side of the aircraft, where it can develop a 120-degree field of view covering nearly 19,305 square miles and is capable of detecting targets at more than 250 kilometers. The radar also has the capability to detect helicopters, rotating antennas, and low, slow-moving fixed-wing aircraft, including surface vessels.

As a battle management and command and control asset with robust communications and datalink capabilities, the E-8C can support the full spectrum of roles and missions, from disaster relief and peacekeeping operations to major theater war.

BACKGROUND
Joint STARS evolved from Army and Air Force programs to develop, detect, locate, and attack enemy armor at ranges beyond the forward area of troops. The first two developmental aircraft deployed in 1991 to Operation DESERT STORM and supported Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR in December 1995. In 1996, JOINT ENDEAVOR transitioned to JOINT GUARD.

Joint STARS supported NATO troops over Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1996 and Operation ALLIED FORCE in 1999. Since September 11, 2001, the fleet has flown more than 130,000 combat mission hours in support of operations worldwide, including Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, NOBLE EAGLE, and IRAQI FREEDOM. Operation NEW DAWN was supported in 2010 and ODYSSEY DAWN in 2011. The wing further distinguished itself by leading the charge from 2015-2020 with deployments to FREEDOM'S SENTINEL and INHERENT RESOLVE in support of U.S. Central Command and counter-narcotics operations.

Team JSTARS consisted of the Georgia Air National Guard’s 116th Air Control Wing, the active-duty 461st Air Control Wing, and the Army JSTARS detachment, and provided joint airborne command and control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support over land and water to combatant commanders around the globe. The total force integration unit operates the world’s only Joint STARS weapon system based out of Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.