Indra Australia has delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) three Defence Deployable Air Traffic Management and Control Systems (DDATMCS) that will strengthen its capacity for rapid deployment and airspace management anywhere in the world.

The DDATMCS will allow the RAAF to manage approach an en-route air traffic. Two of the systems have two operator positions each and are intended for rapid deployment by air, land or sea for operations of a short duration, such as during Defence assistance to humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations.

This provides the RAAF with a critical deployable capability to safely support incoming flights when air traffic management infrastructure does not exist or has been damaged by disaster or warfighting.

The two systems consists of a deployable and transportable 3D medium range surveillance radar from Indra’s Lanza family of radars and is fully integrated into a mobile Area Control Centre (ACC). The ACC is equipped with Indra’s Air Automation system, which offers state-of-the-art air traffic control, meeting International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Eurocontrol standards.

The system’s surveillance capabilities are complemented by Indra’s Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar with Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe and ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast) signal reception and treatment system, which supports the early detection of both cooperative and non-cooperative targets. The third and final system will support larger and more permanent RAAF deployments through an integrated ACC, with up to six operator positions.

Tehmur Khan Galindo, Managing Director of Indra Australia, said: “This system will replace Air Force’s previous capability and will provide increased flexibility and deployment options, providing important upgrades in deployed airspace and airfield management. The achievement of this critical milestone demonstrates Indra’s commitment to the Australian market and to providing mission critical systems to Australia, through an ongoing partnership between Indra and the ADF. We will now leverage this experience in support of future programs, with the aim of becoming a strategic partner for the modernization and digitization of the Armed Forces.”

Indra Australia has partnered with Australian company Daronmont Technologies (www.daronmont.com) to manufacture the mobile control centres in Australia. This recognises Daronmont’s proven capability in delivering deployable infrastructure to the ADF and has ensured high levels of Australian Industrial Capability (AIC) content in the program.

Indra recently commenced maintenance work on the systems for five years, under the CAF12 sustainment contract.