HAND OVER OF FIFTH SENTINEL R Mk 1 AIRCRAFT TO RAF
10 Feb 09. The RAF’s latest ‘eye in the sky’ has recently returned from its successful trials in Afghanistan. The ASTOR system (Airborne Stand-Off Radar) on the Sentinel R1 aircraft was used to gather vital information for forces in the fight against the Taleban.
These aircraft can detect and recognise moving, static and fixed targets on the ground and are capable of operating for over nine hours at a time. The information gathered is transmitted to ground stations to enable rapid tactical planning and the efficient cueing of assets.
ASTOR has been successfully used by Number 5 (AC) Squadron based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.
During a visit to RAF Waddington to see the new system, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Quentin Davies said:
“This hugely sophisticated system has already demonstrated what it can do to support operations in Afghanistan. In a trial of the system last year, the Sentinel aircraft and its associated ground stations proved they can feed information about the movements of enemy forces to Ground Commanders in near real time.
“The Airborne Stand Off Radar system is a key element of the modern network-enabled battlefield, through which our forces can learn about the movement of enemy forces and react to prevent those threats to our troops.”
Group Captain Harry Kemsley, Officer Commanding 5 (Army Cooperation) Squadron: “5 (AC) Squadron personnel and supporting elements continue to build on the lessons identified from their recent operational experiences in order to further develop the capability of ASTOR. The utility of the system across both military and humanitarian spectrums is significant and wide ranging, and we are working closely with potential customers to ensure that our training is relevant and targeted to their requirements.”
Major Will Tosh, Intelligence Corps, Detachment Commander said: “The ASTOR system was closely embedded within 3 Commando Brigade and provided a near real-time, wide area search capability on operations for the first time. It worked in unison with troops on the ground delivering timely intelligence and situational awareness to those on the front line.”
In the culmination of the £954 million contract, Raytheon Systems Ltd has now delivered the last in a batch of five aircraft to Number 5 (AC) Squadron. The contract also includes eight mobile ground stations. Raytheon will continue to deliver support services to the system over the next 10 years.
MOD Defence Equipment and Support ASTOR team leader Bill Chrispin said: “Delivery of the final aircraft is a huge milestone for us and for our contractor. Now our work will concentrate on achieving the full operational capability of the system at the earliest opportunity.”
Raytheon Company has delivered the fifth and final Sentinel R Mk 1 aircraft to U.K. Royal Air Force at RAF Waddington.
With this hand over, Raytheon’s U.K.-based subsidiary Raytheon Systems Limited has now completed delivery of all Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) equipment to the U.K. Ministry of Defence. With the five Sentinel aircraft, Raytheon delivered six tactical ground station units, two operational level ground station units, support vehicles, and an extensive and sophisticated support infrastructure.
A 10-year contractor logistics support program sees RSL directly supporting the front line on operations and in training and logistics, including what is known as “Contractor Support to Deployed Operations.” The ASTOR system provides wide-area ground surveillance using a dual mode radar system that incorporates a synthetic aperture radar and a moving target indicator. The data from the state-of-the-art radar system is exploited and disseminated by an extensive and sophisticated communications suite including wide- and narrow-band data links, tactical data links, secure VHF and UHF radios and satellite communications, all controlled throu