The Air Force is embarking on a $7 billion program to replace the JSTARS fleet with modern planes by 2024. To meet that target, it has to select a team of contractors in the coming months to start building prototypes. Officials have said a decision will be made sometime between October and March. Congress already appropriated $128 million in fiscal year 2017 for research and development of a JSTARS replacement and the Air Force requested $417 million for 2018.
Industry Heavyweights Make Final Push for New Air Force Spy Plane
