Two Republican senators from Georgia have proposed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2018 that seeks to prevent the potential retirement of the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System by the U.S. Air Force, Atlanta Business Chronicle reported Tuesday.The amendment introduced Tuesday by Sens. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue also aims to ensure the maintenance of the JSTARS aircraft fleet at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.
The measure came days after Isakson, Perdue and three House lawmakers wrote a letter to Defense Secretary James Mattis about the service branch’s move to explore “alternative and surveillance platforms†instead of pursuing the E-8C JSTARS recapitalization program.
“There is no alternative for JSTARS and indicators of its retirement are unacceptable,†they wrote.
“Without this capability, we greatly diminish our nation’s airpower and reduce our combat strength.â€
The senators co-wrote the letter with Reps. Austin Scott (R-Georgia), Sanford Bishop (D-Georgia) and Tom Graves (R-Georgia).
