Indra to Install Eco-friendly Radars for U.K’s Air Surveillance Network Upgrade

Spanish tech gaint, Indra has won a contract to upgrade the United Kingdom’s air surveillance network with new radars.

A total of 19 radars in the different locations will be deployed, each equipped with a primary PSR3D and a secondary MSSR radar.

Indra will also upgrade the systems of the primary radar currently in operation, previously installed by the company at Lowther Hill, and complement it with an MSSR, in such a way that NATS, the air traffic management radar operator, will have 10 identical sites to standardize its maintenance work. The project includes manufacturing, installing, supporting and maintaining the radars for around 20 years.

Thanks to the incorporation of advanced algorithms, Indra’s radars have capabilities to allow better mitigation for the adverse effects that wind farms can have on radar signals, as they are able to detect and eliminate the interference caused by reflections and common turbine noises that affect air safety. This also means that the use of renewable energies can be compatible with safe and efficient air operations.

Phil Blakemore, NATS' Surveillance Service Owner, said: “Replacing our radar fleet is the first phase of a major upgrade to the UK’s radar systems. It will ensure we continue to provide excellent coverage for our customers while also reducing energy use by 30-50%, helping NATS meet its sustainability goals.”

“This ambitious project will consolidate Indra as a global flagship in advanced aviation technology and strengthen its close collaboration with NATS in transforming air traffic management in the United Kingdom and, improving the efficiency and sustainability for decades to come,” highlighted Victor Martínez, Executive Vice President of ATM at Indra.