The Saudi Air Navigation Service Co (SANS), the entity in charge of air traffic management in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), has selected Thales to support a programme for the modernisation of all surveillance radars in the Kingdom.

The programme comes under the auspices of KSA Vision 2030, which aims to reduce Saudi Arabia’s dependence on oil through the diversification of its economy and development of public service sectors.

Thales will supply Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radars (MSSR) Mode S for King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Jazan Airport. These radars will provide full coverage across dense traffic areas.

The radars supplied by Thales are the first phase of the SANS programme to replace existing equipment installed throughout the kingdom.

Thales has been supporting KSA air traffic management for decades, supplying Navigation Aids as well as the Air Traffic Management, Control & Approach Center and the Academy of Civil Aviation.