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The Joint STARS Computer Replacement Programme represents the trend in military electronics to upgrade existing platforms with new technology. The order from General Dynamics Information Systems (GDIS) calls for hardware that will be used as part of the Radar Advanced Signal Processor (RASP) system. RASP is a digital signal processing system that GDIS is developing under contract to Northrop Grumman, the prime contractor for the Joint STARS platform. Plans call for GDIS to deliver RASP systems to upgrade each of 13 Joint STARS aircraft. The production/retrofit effort will use what was developed by the Computer Replacement Programme. Production/retrofit is not part of the Computer Replacement EMD (Engineering, Manufacturing, Development) Programme. This order to Mercury covers test and development systems and totals $3.5 million. The 13 Joint STARS aircraft are scheduled for upgrades by the end of 2010. Production systems for these aircraft have not yet been ordered. Mercury has also received orders from Northrop Grumman for RACE Series MultiPort 410 systems for Joint STARS, totaling $2.5 million. This equipment will be used for application development work, including porting Joint STARS applications to the RACE Series MultiPort system's high-performance architecture. The Air Force's E-8 Joint STARS aircraft is able to identify and track slow moving or stationary targets at sea, on the ground, or hugging the terrain in slow flight. Once identified, targets can be attacked under the Joint STARS' guidance. The ground-attack equivalent of the AWACS air battle management platform, Joint STARS debuted in prototype form during Operation Desert Storm and has also patrolled the skies surrounding Bosnia.
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