WADDINGTON, England, Feb. 10, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 through a central mission system operated by crews in the air and ground segments.

U.K. Minister for Defence Equipment & 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."

Raytheon Systems Limited Chief Executive and Managing Director Brian McKeon said: "The delivery of the final Sentinel represents the culmination of a major effort across the whole of 'Team ASTOR.' The U.K. armed forces now have in their inventory the most advanced air-to-ground surveillance system in the world. Raytheon is proud to have been able to supply this cutting edge capability and stands ready to support all future operations and training."

Tim Carey, Raytheon Company vice president of Intelligence, Reconnaissance and Surveillance Systems, said: "ASTOR protects the men and women who are responsible for delivering the U.K.'s peacekeeping, warfighting and homeland security missions. I am extremely proud of what the ASTOR team has achieved collectively to bring this state-of-the-art air-ground surveillance system to operational fruition."

Raytheon Systems Limited is a prime contractor and major supplier to the U.K. Ministry of Defence and has developed strong capabilities in Mission Systems Integration in defense, national security and commercial markets. RSL also designs, develops and manufactures a range of high technology electronic systems and software at its facilities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 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 73,000 people worldwide.

    Contacts:
    Robin Hughes                   Ramona Layne
    +44 (0)7918 748482 mobile      972.344.4290
    Robin.Hughes@raytheon.co.uk    Ramona_layne@raytheon.com

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

Web site: http://www.raytheon.com/

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