Electronic Weapons: April 1, 2000

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The Air Force has received its seventh JSTARS radar aircraft, and hopes to overturn the Clinton Administration's decision to stop production at 13 instead of the needed 19. The Air Force plans to replace the APY3 radars with Electronically Scanned Arrays, providing better information. The Air Force also wants to replace the engines on the JSTARS aircraft with more efficient types that would give the aircraft more range and a faster climb rate. The new engines should increase the ceiling from 32,000 feet to 42,000 feet, which would increase radar coverage by "several factors of ten".--Stephen V Cole