The Airborne Stand-off Radar (ASTOR) is a new British capability for operations over and around the battlefield. It is to form the UK equivalent to the US E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS). 


ASTOR is to provide a long-range all-weather theatre surveillance and target acquisition system capable of detecting moving, fixed and static targets.


It is designed to meet a joint Army and RAF requirement. The production contract was signed in December 1999 for the supply of five air-platforms, eight ground stations, and contractor logistic support. The principal elements of ASTOR are the Bombardier Global Express aircraft, to be know as Sentinel R1 in RAF service, and the Raytheon ASARS-2 side looking airborne radar used on the U-2.

The radar operates at high altitude and in all weathers to provide high resolution. ASARS-2 has been reported to provide images of the battlefield at ranges of 160 km, at altitudes up to 47,000 feet. High speed data links transfer the data from aircraft to ground stations in near real time.


The system has directional and broadcast data links which are interoperable with existing US U-2Rs, JSTARS and command and control networks. The first aircraft are due to received by No 5 (AC) Squadron in early 2007. Full operational capability should be achieved by 2008. The main ASTOR operating centre will be based at RAF Waddington in the UK. The projected procurement cost is just over £1bn.

COMMERCIAL ASPECTS

Bids for the ASTOR contract were received from Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon. As with all decisions of this significance, many related issues required careful consideration, but on 15 June 1999, after a hard fought competition, the Defence Secretary announced that MOD’s preferred bidder was Raytheon Systems Limited.

Negotiations between the DPA and Raytheon have been completed, and the contract was signed at a ceremony at Abbey Wood on 17 December 1999.

The system solution makes extensive use of commercially available equipment to minimise risk and cost.

The Raytheon consortium includes Short Brothers, Motorola UK, GEC Marconi Avionics and Marshal SV. The participation of these companies, and others, ensures there will be a substantial UK industrial participation in the execution of the contract. The project management team will be located in the United Kingdom and the prime contractor will place work representing 100 per cent of the contract value with firms here. 

ASTOR will provide British industry with valuable high-technology work. The company estimates that the project will create or sustain around 2,500 jobs in the UK. This not only safeguards jobs but also provides high value export potential, ensuring, the UK remains at the forefront of defence technology.

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