FM 34-25-1 Chptr 1 Introduction

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION

We will never again want to fight without a Joint STARS kind of system.

--LTG William C. Key, USMC
Commanding General, 2d Marine Division
during DESERT STORM)

Joint STARS provides continuous wide area surveillance of surface activity. It serves the ground component commander in much the same way as the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) serves the Air Component Commander (ACC).

WHAT IS JOINT STARS?

Joint STARS is an Army and Air Force multiservice system designed to provide real-time surveillance, intelligence, targeting, and battlefield management information to the Land Component Commander (LCC).

MISSION

The primary mission of Joint STARS is to provide dedicated support to the corps commander and other ground commanders, under the overall direction of the Joint Force Commander (JFC).

One Joint STARS consists of an Air Force owned E-8 aircraft staffed by Air Force and Army personnel and GSMs staffed by Army personnel. Figure 1-1 shows a GSM deployment. Three to five positions onboard the E-8 are staffed by Army personnel who provide tasking and reporting channels between the E-8 and the GSMs.

WHAT DOES IT PROVIDE?

Joint STARS provides Ground Component Commanders (GCCs) access to near-real-time (NRT) radar imagery data that is valuable and accurate and supports the decision making process. Joint STARS provides--

A value-added capability because it provides NRT indications and warnings (I&W) of threat activity during peacetime or pre-hostilities.
A tool that aids the commander in positioning his forces and determining probable places and times for attack and defense.
The capability to dynamically display moving and massing targets over an entire corps sector about every 60 seconds.
Intelligence support to those commanders fighting on a fluid battlefield where deep attacks may be defined in all directions.
The ability to cross-cue other intelligence sensors.
Immediate NRT response to cross-cuing from other sensors.
A system that enables all echelons to focus on their area of interest (AI) and to monitor the entire corps sector for I&W, battle management, and targeting purposes.
Radar imagery in all but the most severe weather.
The only Wide Area Surveillance System that has the resolution and real-time capability necessary to aid the commander in the future sensor-oriented battle management process. Joint STARS operators receive radar data from deep in the threat rear area. This data includes--

--Railhead activities.

--Assembly areas.

--Lines of communications (LOCs) (as in convoy activity or staging areas).

--Movement of threat units from garrison locations to field sites.

--Airfield activities.

--Displacement of artillery units.

MAJOR COMPONENTS

The Joint STARS major components listed below are fully explained in Chapter 2.

The E-8 aircraft, which includes--

--A communications suite.

--Operations and control (O& C) consoles.

--Multi-mode radar.

--An aircraft self-defense suite (SDS).

The GSM.

AIR FORCE E-8 AIRCRAFT STAFFING

The E-8 aircraft is authorized a crew of 21 personnel, 3 to 5 of which are Army personnel. They either fly the aircraft or perform mission operations. (See Figure 1-2 for crew member titles and duties and Figure 1-3 for the layout of the E-8 mission crew.)

GROUND STATION MODULE

Each GSM has two consoles and requires six operators per GSM for 24-hour operation. Two imagery ground station operators (IGSOs) and a team leader-are required to man each GSM shift. MOS 33T soldiers perform unit level intermediate maintenance. (Chapter 6 contains additional data on 33T responsibilities.)

TEAM LEADER:

There are two NCOs assigned to each GSM site. One is also designated as site noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC). In addition to the normal shift duties, NCOIC responsibilities are discussed in Chapter 3.