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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 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. ASTOR has a target in-service date of
September 2005. 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.
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ASTOR Specifications
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| Crew
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2 aircrew
- 3 mission systems operators |
| Length
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30.3m
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| Wingspan
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28.6m
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| Height
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7.57m
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| Empty
Weight |
22,817kg |
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Max Take-Off Weight
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43,094kg |
| Range |
6,500nm/12,000km |
| Endurance |
14+ hours |
| Operating altitude |
15,000m |
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Engines |
2 x RR
BR710 |
| Systems |
ASARS-2 radar
derivative |
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Narrowband datalink subsystem
(NDLS), wideband data link based on
Common Data Link (CDL) |
| Defensive Aids Subsystem
(DASS) |
Developed for the Nimrod MRA4, including
missile warning system, radar warning receiver, towed radar decoy and
chaff and flare dispensers
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In service with:
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5 Squadron |
5 x Sentinel R1 (ASTOR) |
RAF Waddington |
Photos
Copyright © Raytheon Company
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