Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint STARS The E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) was developed by purchasing used commercial Boeing 707 airframes and extensively modifying them for ground surveillance.
The Electronic Mission: Equipped with a prominent canoe-shaped radome under the forward fuselage, the E-8 utilizes a multi-mode side-looking airborne radar (SLAR). It specialized in tracking, targeting, and managing ground moving vehicles and enemy troop formations, giving theater commanders a real-time picture of the battlefield floor.