Iconic Aircraft Aviation Forum

by **Fat Badger** » Fri Aug 27, 2010 1:04 pm

V(AC) Squadron’s Sentinels and Shadows reach 5000 hours operational milestone.

V(Army Co-operation) Squadron has reached yet another milestone in its history by having its two latest aircraft types reach 5000 hours on deployed operations in Afghanistan. The Sentinel R1 and the Shadow R1 have totted up 2500 hours each in support of Coalition Forces in Afghanistan. The Sentinel R1 is part of the Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) system, which also comprises Tactical Ground Stations (TGS) and Operational Level Ground Stations (OLGS). The ASTOR system is used with the Sentinel flying in the vicinity of the target area collecting information in either the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) mode or the Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) mode; the information is then passed via data link to the ground station. The ground station analyses the data in near real time or post-mission and subsequently passes the information to the various Task Forces in Theatre.

Officer Commanding V(AC) Squadron, Wing Commander Rich Barrow said; “We must also recognise that for every one of the 5000 hours that the aircraft have flown there have been many, many more hours dedicated to the maintenance of equipment and to the analysis of the data collected. Ultimately, what matters to the man on the ground is not the time the aircraft spend in the air but what is done with the information. The production of data by the ASTOR ground section delivers the actionable intelligence product to the individual or unit that needs it in a format that they can readily understand and use”.

Since July 2009 V(Army Co-operation) Squadron has been permanently deployed in support of Operation HERRICK. In this period the soldiers, sailors and airmen of the Squadron have developed the embryonic ASTOR and Shadow systems into battle winning capabilities that have consistently ensured success by providing essential actionable intelligence. The preceding 12-months have repeatedly proved the ability of ASTOR to act as a force multiplier allowing Land forces to apply their resources at exactly the right place and time. The wide area search capability of ASTOR has provided UK and Coalition partners with unprecedented insight into the unique operating environment of Afghanistan. The ability to search vast areas and provide real-time information to others has led to more efficient and effective application of capabilities including Remotely Piloted Air Systems, Coalition helicopter borne forces, light-armed reconnaissance vehicles and combat aircraft.

The Combined Force Lashkar Gah (CF LKG), following receipt of an activity study produced by V(AC) Squadron commented that cross-cueing ASTOR with other assets is the most efficient and effective way to conduct counter-insurgency operations in support of ISAF. So pleased were they with the information that more was requested. Many of the Battle groups, including 1 Royal Welsh, deployed as part of Op MOSHTARAK in February and March this year, commented on the excellence of the information provided by the ASTOR system, which allowed them to manoeuvre into areas they knew they could best effect as part of their operational focus. For example the Combat Logistics Patrols that re-supply the Forward Operating Bases rely heavily on the GMTI product that ASTOR can produce before they plot their route moves. This positive feedback clearly proves the worth of V(AC) Squadron’s continued efforts away from their Main Operating Base (MOB) of RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire.