Romania signs 326.5 mln lei radar deal

Romania’s defence ministry has signed a 326.5 million lei contract, equivalent to about 61 million euro, to purchase four mobile approach control and landing radar systems. The agreement was concluded through the ministry’s armaments directorate with a consortium formed by Thales LAS France and Thales Romania, both part of French defence group Thales. The systems will serve as Ground Controlled Approach capabilities, providing support for aircraft during approach and landing phases. Deliveries under the contract will be made in stages starting in 2028.

The new mobile radar systems are intended for use with both military and civilian aircraft, during day and night operations. They are designed to guide aircraft on approach and landing, supplying air traffic controllers with precise information on an aircraft’s position relative to the runway axis and glide path. The radars will function continuously, 24 hours a day, in a wide range of weather conditions. They will also operate in demanding or hostile electromagnetic environments while maintaining surveillance and guidance functions.

Information from the radars will be transmitted in real time to Romania’s national command and control structures and to NATO air command and control systems. This will support coordinated management of airspace for both civil and defence purposes. The new capabilities are expected to enhance the resilience of air operations and improve interoperability with allied systems by ensuring consistent data flows on air movements.

Each system includes STAR NG, an S-band primary surveillance radar conceived for approach control. STAR NG provides coverage of up to 60 nautical miles and can be deployed at civilian airports as well as military air bases. It offers scalable architecture, allowing it to be adapted to different operational requirements while maintaining surveillance performance around airfields. The radar is designed for use in both civil and military environments.

Complementing STAR NG, the RSM NG/IFF metasensor integrates three identification and surveillance technologies. It includes Mode 5 NATO, a military Identification Friend or Foe capability; Mode S, compliant with EUROCONTROL standards for secondary surveillance of civilian air traffic; and ADS-B, which uses automatic dependent surveillance broadcast for aircraft to relay their position data. Together, these systems provide detailed situational awareness for controllers and command centres overseeing air operations.

The contract is also focused on strengthening industrial cooperation between Romania and France in the defence sector. Thales Romania, which is headquartered in Romania and active in advanced technologies, is a core participant in the programme. The defence ministry highlights this involvement as an opportunity to leverage the expertise of Romanian specialists and build local technological competencies.

Thales experts based in Romania will work alongside local partners on the installation and integration of the radar systems. They will also contribute to ensuring the long-term availability and maintenance of the equipment. The implementation effort will involve collaboration with the Ministry of National Defence to deploy the systems at selected locations and to integrate them into existing air traffic management and command-and-control infrastructures.