Indra has been awarded a major contract by NATS, the United Kingdom’s air navigation service provider, to modernize the country’s air surveillance network with next-generation radar systems.
The program will see the installation of 19 new radars across 10 standardized sites, each equipped with 3D primary surveillance radars (PSR3D) and secondary MSSR radars. These systems are designed to monitor national airspace while meeting high environmental and technical standards.
The project includes manufacturing, installation, and 20 years of support and maintenance. Existing infrastructure will be upgraded, notably the Lowther Hill radar previously deployed by Indra, and a unified architecture will streamline future maintenance operations.
Key environmental innovations include:
- Reduced energy consumption by 30–50%,
- Remote management capabilities,
- Compatibility with wind farms through interference-cancelling algorithms,
- Reusability of existing facilities, lowering the carbon footprint.
“Replacing our radar fleet is the first phase of a major upgrade to the UK’s radar systems,” said Phil Blakemore, NATS’ Surveillance Service Owner. “It ensures excellent coverage while helping NATS meet its sustainability goals.”
Indra’s Executive VP for ATM, Víctor Martínez, added:
“This ambitious project consolidates Indra’s position as a global leader in aviation technology and strengthens our collaboration with NATS in transforming air traffic management in the UK.”
Indra has deployed over 11,000 air traffic systems worldwide and is among the few firms offering end-to-end flight management solutions, from takeoff to landing.