Although system integration, air-platform performance, logistic support, training, air- platform modification, ground-shelter design, data-link capabilities and many other elements are crucial to the success of ASTOR, attention has focused on the sensor package as the main element differentiating the rival bids.

Two contenders are UK-based subsidiaries of US giants. Lockheed Martin UK Government Systems (LM UKGS) and Raytheon Systems Limited (RSL) have offered solutions based on what are said to be relatively mature designs. However, Northrop Grumman is offering what it claims is radically new technology based on US government work to upgrade the Joint STARS. The degree to which the relative designs can be considered British, and open for export in lucrative foreign markets without a US congressional veto, is also crucial to the ASTOR contract.

Raytheon

The design authority for the radar and its antenna (being built by Marconi Electronic Systems) will rest in the UK. This will allow the system to be exported as a UK product, claims the company. "Winning ASTOR will allow RSL to grow a major electronic missions system- integration capability in the UK," said a company spokesman. "The programme will enable the transfer of technologies and system- integration expertise from the US to the UK. Design authority and logistic support for Raytheon's ASTOR system will rest in the UK."

Robbie said that Raytheon is offering the MoD sufficient ownership of software to allow the system to be exported.

Team Astor

According to LM UKGS's director of advanced programmes, C4I/surveillance, Greg Davis, its ASTOR sensor is a UK radar that has been purpose-designed to meet the UK requirement. "The radar needs to give equal importance to SAR and MTI so there was a requirement to build a new radar because no existing radar met the requirement," he said. "It is an active scanning radar that provides adaptable beam shapes Ð broad beams for MTI and narrow beams for SAR."

Thanks to the Racal link, Team ASTOR is playing the home-team card. "[Our radar] is fully compliant with the UK's requirement, it is a high-technology solution, provides real jobs for the UK, retains and grows the UK technology base and has real growth potential," said Alan Gordon, Racal's marketing manager.

Wizard

The active, two-dimensional, electronically scanned array radar is a scaled-down version of the RTIP sensor, according to Frank Dogaer, Northrop Grumman's Wizard programme manager. The RTIP technology means the sensor performance will be significantly better in many modes than Britain requires, claims Northrop Grumman.

Because of the USAF's involvement in RTIP technology, any purchase and technology- transfer agreement is likely to be governed by a government-to-government agreement.

Northrop Grumman also says it has made approaches to Racal and Marconi, Britain's two radar houses, to team up to incorporate RTIP into ASTOR. "We want a high-technology partner agreement," said Dogaer. "RTIP is a low-risk solution. It could be risky if we didn't have the right credentials, but we believe we have them." Marty Dandridge, Northrop Grumman's vice-president and general manager for surveillance and battlefield management systems, said: "Wizard offers significant potential for export, offering BAe, Computing Devices and the radar house we team with, an organic ASTOR capability in the UK."

Endgame

At the end of November 1998 Northrop Grumman and Raytheon finally agreed to a 50-50 work-share on the radar sensor portion of RTIP, with Raytheon working as a subcontractor. Prior to this agreement Northrop Grumman had claimed that its ASTOR bid offered the only route for the UK joint RTIP, so there may now be a route for RTIP technology to be used by other ASTOR contenders.

The UK MoD continues to give ASTOR a high priority and there is no indication that it might be delayed. If it gets the go-ahead, ASTOR will provide the UK with a highly capable surveillance system and possibly a head start in the global market.