Defense Department's ATC Modernization Plans Leap Forward With Positive Production Decisions For Raytheon's ASR-11 and STARS.

Business/Technology Editors and Military Affairs Writers

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 30, 2000

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.