DALLAS, Dec. 1, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- The Airborne Standoff Radar system
developed by Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) for the U.K. Ministry of Defence has
entered service with the Royal Air Force.
"Accepting ASTOR into service with the Royal Air Force represents the most
significant milestone in the ASTOR project to date, with the U.K. armed forces
receiving what is an entirely new operational capability," said Bill Chrispin,
leader of the MoD ASTOR integrated project team. "Only through a strong
working relationship between the MoD and Raytheon has the system matured into
what we see today. The next stage in the ASTOR program is to deliver the
system in its entirety to the RAF and to continue supporting the system
through life, a challenge which the MoD and Raytheon are well set-up to meet
in partnership."
The in-service date indicates that the system has two aircraft, two ground
stations and two trained crews capable of supporting a brigade-level
deployment. In total, Raytheon has delivered four aircraft, eight ground
stations -- six for tactical purposes and two at the operational level -- and
full mission support capabilities. The fifth and final aircraft is on track
for delivery by the end of 2008.
"We are proud to reach this critical milestone with the RAF, the British
Army and the MoD," said Jon Jones, president of Raytheon's Space and Airborne
Systems business. "Now that the ASTOR system has been officially accepted and
is in service, we are excited to see how its mission-critical intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities will benefit the men and women on
the battlefield."
"The realization of the in-service date reflects the successful
culmination of a sustained collaborative effort between Raytheon, our industry
partners, and the U.K. MoD," said Brian McKeon, chief executive of Raytheon
Systems Limited (RSL), the company's U.K. subsidiary. "ASTOR provides an
unparalleled ISR capability that will underpin the operational superiority of
the U.K. armed forces and their allies, both in the near term and for the
foreseeable future."
The airborne element of the ASTOR system comprises five modified
Bombardier Global Express aircraft. Dubbed Sentinel R Mk 1, each aircraft is
equipped by Raytheon with a dual-mode (synthetic aperture and ground moving
target indicator) radar. Integrated platform workstations aboard each aircraft
allow mission management, imagery exploitation, and transmission of the
imagery by secure data link to the operational and tactical ASTOR ground
stations.
Following delivery of the fifth aircraft, the system will move into a role
of full mission support provided by RSL. Raytheon integrated the ASTOR system
in partnership with BAE Systems, Bombardier, CUBIC, General Dynamics, L-3
Communications, SELEX and Thales.
Raytheon Systems Limited is a prime contractor and major supplier to the
U.K. Ministry of Defence and is involved in numerous, high-priority programs
for the U.S. Department of Defense. RSL designs, develops and manufactures a
range of high-technology defense and commercial electronic systems at its
facilities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Raytheon Company, with 2007 sales of $21.3 billion, is a technology leader
specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets
throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 86 years, Raytheon
provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other
capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control,
communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission
support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 72,000
people worldwide.
