Raytheon has taken a $55 million charge following a hardware failure last year to the radar installation for the UK's Sentinel R1 airborne standoff radar (ASTOR) aircraft. The Sentinel will make its delayed first flight with the modified radar - which is now in ground test - in the third quarter of this year, kicking off a six-month test campaign. The modified Bombardier Global Express business jet has already completed airworthiness, structural, environmental and icing trials in the USA. The Sentinel's planned November 2005 in-service date will be delayed by the radar fault, but Raytheon says the type remains on track to meet its initial operating capability with the UK armed forces on schedule in 2007.
Source: Flight International
