The Air Force needs to replace its aging fleet of radar planes, starting with the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System that is used to track and image moving ground targets. It has a plan for replacing all the planes in the current fleet, however the plan is inexplicably lengthy, with full operational capability for the next-generation aircraft not occurring until 15 years after an analysis of alternatives was completed. There is no reason why it should take that long to buy 16 off-the-shelf airplanes and install sensing technology that is already mature. The current plan is out of step with acquisition reform. I have written a commentary for Forbes here.
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