Thales has been contracted by Luchtverkeersleiding Nederland (LVNL), the Dutch Air Navigation Services Provider, to supply its RSM NG secondary surveillance radar at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS).
This system will strengthen air traffic management at Schiphol Airport, one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs, by delivering enhanced performance and reliability.
The RSM NG is the latest generation of secondary surveillance radar from Thales. It combines traditional Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar (MSSR) with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology.
Capable of tracking up to 2,000 aircraft and providing 64 simultaneous data streams, the system offers faster track initialisation and more precise detection.
Edward Schaap, Manager of Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance for LVNL said:For LVNL, safety in the airspace is the top priority. Our air traffic controllers must be able to rely on the air traffic situation picture they see to safely guide aircraft and passengers through Dutch airspace. Reliable, robust and modern systems are crucial for this. The new radar at Schiphol Airport, which Thales will implement in collaboration with LVNL, will contribute to ensuring that we can continue to manage air traffic safely, efficiently, and responsibly in the coming decades.
Secondary surveillance radars are essential for air traffic management, providing controllers with critical data on an aircraft’s position, speed, altitude, and identification. By integrating ADS-B, the RSM NG ensures more accurate and continuous aircraft tracking. This enables compliance with the required 3 NM separation between aircraft, even in high-traffic environments like Schiphol.
Thales will install the RSM NG radar at Schiphol within the next year under a seamless replacement plan to avoid service interruptions. The contract also includes personnel training, spare parts, and maintenance support for a period of 15 to 25 years.
