Excellent replys, thanks.
CR, I agree with most of your points. Especially the present UAV limitations, for example Preditor aledgedly needs quite a large support infrastucture and it's capability was described as a loking at the world through a small tube, hence limited situational awareness which is something that very few manned aircraft suffer from. Of course in the future more/better sensors and NEC will make UAV's more attractive, Global Hawk is probably there almost, if you have the budget!
Widger, you mentioned Seaking ASaCS capability and the part it played in the Gulf War 2, did it realy provide ASTOR capability? From what I have heard and read it seems that it picked up a few land targets and due to some good work by the crews, managed to get other units to positively I.D. and engage them. A job well done, but well below what the ASTOR reqirement is, but similar to the Army's CASTOR from the early 80's? I can see how that might come in useful in our limited Expeditionary warfare, especially as the Mk 7 has another role and is easier to deploy/maintain.
Ralphmalph, you mentioned
"If you couple this technology with the ability to detect individual radar threat systems( e.g. ZSU23/4 ---- number 17 made in Krakow) then you have a truly awesome bit of ISTAR equipment!"
Does ASTOR have an ELINT system onboard and operators dedicated to it? If not then you require another asset and some pretty fancy links, which
AFAIK we don't have and although possible would cost a fair amount to develope.
Still not quite sure who we would need to use the ASTOR capability against, it monitors vast areas for ground vehicles (which have to be moving to be noticed?) great when the Russians were coming over the German Plain and great in Gulf War 1 with almost ideal topography. But was it any use in the Balkans with steep valleys and no defined FLOT or Afganistan?
It still seems to me that it's capability is for full scale conflicts which we are not likely to be involved in considering our present Expeditionary Role defence policy. As we would most likely be with the U.S. they already possess the capability. Iif we have our own conflict in the next 5 to 10 years will we be able to deploy 3 or more large single role aircraft to a FOB on our limited budget.
The Nimrod MRA4 might come in to service "fairly" soon will have the ELINT and MTI radar, and also the ability to positively I.D. and possibly engage targets. It also has growth potential which Sentinel appears to have already used up, although not offering the same level of capability as ASTOR it might give enough capability to do the role while also providing other roles. Would this fit the present day requirement better, maybe we should order a couple more of these instead.
Incedently, I could think of another role that the goverment would love. One Sentinel could cover most of the UK at once and remove the need for any speed cameras
Again thanks for some excellent response so far.