Led by U.S. Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff and Congressmen Sanford Bishop and Austin Scott, the Georgia congressional delegation is urging the Air Force to clarify the future of Robins Air Force Base as the long-running JSTARS mission winds down. The congressional leadership has received assurances that personnel levels will remain the same following the end of JSTARS but there is still uncertainty around numbers with the new missions that will replace the program at Robins.
The lawmakers sent an official letter to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and Chief of Staff General Charles Brown requesting more information on the new missions and reminding Air Force leadership of the critical role Robins has played in the country’s national security. Not to mention the many thousands of jobs that are both directly and indirectly supported by Robins AFB,
“Robins AFB has long maintained broad and bipartisan support from the Georgia delegation. The Air Force’s decision eventually to retire the E-8 JSTARS platform has been accompanied by promises from both of your predecessors regarding follow on missions at the installation,” said the letter. “We ask for your commitment to follow through on the promises made to this delegation, and we affirm our commitment to work in good faith with the Air Force to bring the new missions to Robins.”
JSTARS has been based at Robins since the early 2000s and the Air Force is now retiring the first four E-8 JSTARS this year. Secretary Kendall noted the key role Georgia has played and it will continue to play related to the Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) mission. Additionally, the Air Control Squadron, E-11 and Spectrum Warfare Group missions will be based out of Robins.
“This is a promising first-step. We now request the detailed implementation plan for these new missions and documentation to confirm the new missions will fully account for the personnel currently supporting the JSTARS mission. Additionally, we currently understand that the Battle Management Control Squadron (Kingpin) and E-11 missions, while important, may not be long-term, enduring missions for the Air Force,” said the lawmakers. “Therefore, along with working with your staff on understanding the detailed implementation plans for the incoming missions, we ask for your assurance that you will continue to work with the delegation to ensure Robins AFB retains its vital role in the Air Force’s future and retains Active-Duty and Air National Guard Wing-level units.”
“Robins Air Force Base is a vital installation to our national defense, and I am thankful that the Georgia delegation is united in support of the new missions at the base,” Scott said. “Robins is ready for the new missions, and I am confident that the Air Force will honor their past commitments.”
As part of their request, the lawmakers specifically requested any details about personnel gaps between the JSTARS retirement and the incoming mission, the projected timeline or lifespan of the E-11 mission and a commitment that Robins will host the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS).
