Indra renews the UK's air navigation radar network with cutting-edge technology for more sustainable aviation

Indra has won a contract to modernise the UK's air surveillance network with new state-of-the-art radars. NATS, the country's air navigation service provider, has awarded Indra this project, which will incorporate cutting-edge design and technology to reduce CO2 emissions.

In total, Indra will deploy 19 radars distributed across different locations, each equipped with a PSR3D primary radar and an MSSR secondary radar. In addition, Indra will upgrade the primary radar systems previously installed by the company at Lowther Hill, which are already in operation, and will complement them with an MSSR, so that NATS will have 10 identical sites that will standardise maintenance tasks. The project includes the manufacture, installation, support and maintenance of the radars for around 20 years. 

Indra's radars meet the highest technical and safety standards and are designed to be managed remotely from any device, a sustainable approach that reduces the carbon footprint and optimises energy consumption by reusing the necessary facilities and improving the efficiency of the buildings where they are installed. This is made possible by Indra's cloud-based control and monitoring system, which will facilitate radar maintenance once they are operational.

Indra's systems meet the demanding sustainability requirements set by NATS in its environmental commitments and in achieving its goal of zero emissions in all air traffic operations. Thanks to the incorporation of advanced algorithms, Indra's radars have capabilities that enable better mitigation of the adverse effects that wind farms can cause on radar signals, as they are able to detect and eliminate interference caused by the usual reflections and noise from turbines, which affect air safety. This also makes it possible to combine the use of renewable energy with safe and efficient air operations.

Phil Blakemore, Head of Surveillance at NATS, said: ‘Replacing our radar fleet is the first phase of a major upgrade of the UK's radar systems. This will ensure that we continue to provide excellent coverage for our customers, while reducing energy consumption by 30-50%, helping NATS meet its sustainability targets.

‘This ambitious project consolidates Indra as a global leader in advanced aviation technology and strengthens our close collaboration with NATS to transform air traffic management in the United Kingdom and improve flight efficiency and sustainability for decades to come. Indra is one of the few companies in the world capable of undertaking the complete renewal of an air surveillance network of this kind, and the trust placed in us by major countries such as Germany, Spain and now the United Kingdom, three pillars of the European digital sky, demonstrates that this is a viable and more efficient model,’ said Víctor Martínez, general manager of ATM at Indra.

Globally, Indra has equipped more than 11,000 air traffic facilities around the world and is one of the few companies in the world with a portfolio of next-generation solutions capable of managing a flight from door to door, from take-off to arrival at its destination.