The Joint Stars Platform Decision.
Abstract
In May 1973, the Undersecretary of Defense for Research Development and Engineering (USDR&E) tasked the Air Force to develop a weapon system that would detect, locate and strike mobile enemy armor. This program was named PAVE MOVER. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) directed and funded the Air Force to develop a weapon system and to conduct end-to-end technology demonstration of the radar and missiles. The resulting Assault Breaker demonstrations were managed out of Rome Air Development Center (RADC) as advance development contracts. These service unique requirements became the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) requirement in May of 1982. USDR&E issued a memorandum directing that a Joint Air Force I Army Program Management Office be established under Air Force lead to develop a single multi-mode target acquisition and weapon guidance system . As a result of this direction, the Joint STARS Joint Program Office (JPO) was established out of the independent Air Force PAVE MOVER and Army SOTAS program offices. The purpose of this study is to analyze some of the decisions that were made during the development program that lead the Air Force to place its premiere airborne surveillance radar capability on a 30 year old airframe. Every attempt has been made to capture the decision making scenarios as they were understood at the time to confront the reader with the same uncertainties as those confronting the decision makers 5 to 10 years earlier (1985-1990). To the extent practical, this case study provides the same financial data, schedule data, and technical information that was available to the SPD(s) for Joint STARS. Where that is not feasible, the best approximations will be provided.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA331485
Entities
People
- Thomas J. Robillard
Organizations
- Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy