Editing Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint STARS (section)

===Radar and systems===
[[File:Pave Mover Antenna Array, view 1, prototype for J-STARS antenna, Norden, 1981-1983 - National Electronics Museum - DSC00429.JPG|thumb|left|[[Pave Mover]] Radar, the prototype for the JSTARS radar]]
[[File:E-8 crewmembers.JPG|thumb|Crew members uploading software onto an E-8 during preparations for a flight|alt=]]

The [[AN/APG-76#AN/APY-7|AN/APY-7]] radar can operate in wide area surveillance, [[Moving target indication|ground moving target indicator]] (GMTI), fixed target indicator (FTI) target classification, and [[synthetic aperture radar]] (SAR) modes.

To pick up moving targets, the [[Doppler radar]] looks at the [[Doppler effect|Doppler]] frequency shift of the returned signal. It can look from a long-range, which the military refers to as a high standoff capability. The antenna can be tilted to either side of the aircraft for a 120-degree field of view covering nearly 19,305 square miles (50,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) and can simultaneously track {{citation needed span|600 targets|date=July 2024}} at more than 152 miles (250&nbsp;km).<ref name="USAF factsheet attribution"/> The GMTI modes cannot pick up objects that are too small, insufficiently dense, or stationary.  Data processing allows the APY-7 to differentiate between armored vehicles (tracked tanks) and trucks, allowing targeting personnel to better select the appropriate ordnance for various targets.

The system's SAR modes can produce images of stationary objects. Objects with many angles (for example, the interior of a pick-up bed) will give a much better radar signature, or specular return. In addition to being able to detect, locate and track large numbers of ground vehicles, the radar has a limited capability to detect helicopters, rotating antennas and low, slow-moving fixed-wing aircraft.<ref name="USAF factsheet attribution"/>

[[File:GMTI JSTARS.jpg|thumb|Joint STARS GMTI overlaid on aerial image|alt=]]
The radar and computer subsystems on the E-8C can gather and display broad and detailed battlefield information. Data is collected as events occur. This includes position and tracking information on enemy and friendly ground forces. The information is relayed in near-real time to the [[United States Army|US Army]]'s common ground stations via the secure jam-resistant surveillance and control data link (SCDL) and to other ground [[C4I]] nodes beyond line-of-sight via ultra high-frequency satellite communications.<ref name="USAF factsheet attribution"/>

Other major E-8C prime mission equipment are the communications/datalink (COMM/DLX) and operations and control (O&C) subsystems. Eighteen operator workstations display computer-processed data in graphic and tabular format on video screens. Operators and technicians perform battle management, surveillance, weapons, intelligence, communications and maintenance functions.

Northrop Grumman has tested the installation of a MS-177 camera on an E-8C to provide real time visual target confirmation.<ref>Matthews, William [https://archive.today/20120731064853/http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4996370&c=FEA&s=TEC Joint STARS Aircraft Tests U-2 Camera in Tandem With Radar] Def News, 1 November 2010</ref>

The [[Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program]] (MP-RTIP) radar system was proposed as a more capable replacement of the AN/APY-7. The USAF ended up pursuing cheaper ways to modernize the E-8, though the MP-RTIP receiver technology did see use in the form of JSTARS Radar Modernization (JSRM).<ref name=did>{{cite web |title=JSTARS Replacement: Competition Opened Wide - Defense Industry Daily |url=https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/jumped-up-jstars-mp-rtip-technology-for-ground-surveillance-planes-05156/ |website=www.defenseindustrydaily.com/ |language=en}}</ref>