MARLBOROUGH, Mass., March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Air Force Electronic
Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., has completed pre-production
activities resulting in a positive low-rate initial production (LRIP) decision
for the Raytheon ASR-11 Digital Airport Surveillance Radar (DASR). In
addition, the Department of Defense (DoD) made a similar positive decision in
late January to proceed with LRIP for the Raytheon Standard Terminal
Automation Replacement System (STARS), also known as the DoD Advanced
Automation System (DAAS). These two critical decisions are based on results
achieved in the successful development test/operational test of both systems
at Eglin AFB, Fla., that were completed in December 1999.
The ASR-11 DASR and STARS form the core of DoD's air traffic modernization
program. The Eglin AFB system is the first step in DoD's plans to procure up
to 104 ASR-11s and up to 191 STARS systems for its radar approach control
facilities and associated air traffic control (ATC) towers. Both programs are
joint procurements with the FAA: DoD leads the radar procurement and FAA leads
STARS. Live operation of the ASR-11 and STARS at Eglin AFB is planned to begin
in early summer 2000.
"These two new systems are imperative to advancing the safety and
efficiency of military ATC throughout the National Airspace System," said Col.
Stephen Henry, the Air Force's director of global air traffic control
operations. "Our air traffic control personnel can't wait to start using these
new systems operationally."
"The decision to move into production of the ASR-11 and STARS is a
significant milestone in the DoD ATC modernization program," said Bob Eckel,
Raytheon's vice president of domestic ATC programs. "These decisions are based
on more than two and a half years of extensive test programs that ensured that
the systems met their design specifications."
The ASR-11 DASR is a modern, solid-state airport surveillance radar with
primary surveillance coverage to 60 miles and secondary surveillance coverage
to 120 miles. It provides improved detection in clutter and weather, increased
reliability and low life-cycle costs, and it further can detect six levels of
weather. Up to 216 ASR-11s are being planned for DoD and FAA procurement.
The STARS/DAAS is a modern, highly reliable, open-architecture air traffic
automation system that provides new high-resolution color displays and greatly
improved computer processing and communication equipment. In addition, it has
six-level weather display and multi-radar tracking capability and allows
incorporation of new hardware and software features. The FAA and DoD plan to
purchase up to 331 STARS for terminal ATC facilities.
Raytheon Company, based in Lexington, Mass., is a global technology leader
that provides products and services in the areas of commercial and defense
electronics, engineering and construction, and business and special mission
aircraft. Raytheon has operations throughout the United States and serves
customers in more than 80 countries around the world.
Contact: Blanche E. Necessary
703.284.4422
http://www.raytheon.com
SOURCE Raytheon Company
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