Bombardier welcomes UK's ASTOR choice

June 17, 1999

Welcoming the UK Government's announcement that the Raytheon/Bombardier Aerospace team had been selected as the preferred bidder for the UK Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) programme., Michael Graff, chief operating officer, Bombardier Aerospace, said, "We are delighted that the Global Express is now recognised as being the best aircraft to fulfil the ultra long-range, high-altitude ASTOR mission requirement and that the first missionised Global Express will be used by the RAF and the UK Government.

"Clearly, the UK's decision means that prospects are very promising for future international sales of Global Express for ASTOR-type missions."

He also pointed out that the selection of the team would create or sustain approximately 750 jobs Northern Ireland at Bombardier Aerospace's Shorts factory, which manufactures 25 per cent of the Global Express.

Modifications to Global Express required for ASTOR will be designed and manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace in Belfast. Radomes will be supplied by British Aerospace Systems and Equipment. Integration of the first aircraft will be undertaken by a UK team at Raytheon Aircraft Integration in Greenville, Texas with integration of subsequent aircraft being carried out at Raytheon's Broughton plant in Wales.

The UK Ministry of Defence's Airborne Stand-Off Radar requirement is for dual mode radar and communication systems mounted on an ultra long-range business jet to provide high-altitude, long-range surveillance. The system will have both military and civil applications. In the former, the system will operate at long distances from a hostile zone at high-altitude, producing a picture of the land, and any objects on it, including moving vehicles. Its purpose is to provide accurate information to allow effective political and military assessments to be made.

ASTOR will also have significant civil applications such as monitoring oil spillages, natural disasters or shoreline reconnaissance activity. Should it become necessary, ASTOR will facilitate the effective management of any crisis by providing real-time information on a twenty-four-hour, all-weather basis.

REF XQQEE XQQAR