Separate teams led by Raytheon [RTN] and Lockheed Martin [LMT] said yesterday they plan on pursuing the Air Force’s Deployable Radar Approach Control (D-RAPCON) program.
D-RAPCON is a deployable air traffic control (ATC) surveillance system for joint, coalition and civil aircraft worldwide. The Air Force is looking to purchase 19 deployable surveillance systems and proposals are due July 23.
Raytheon said its D-RAPCON solution consists of primary and secondary ATC radars integrated with a quick set-up and deployable radar antenna, a self-contained deployable ATC operations center, an ATC voice (UHF/VHF) communications system and secured network data communications. Raytheon said it has developed a low-risk, highly interoperable solution through the incorporation of fielded and proven subsystems, including the Digital Airport Surveillance Radar (DASR)/ASR-11 and the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS), both of which the company said is in full-rate production (FRP).
“Raytheon’s D-RAPCON solution optimizes the Defense Department’s investment in air traffic modernization to date by utilizing proven, fielded and National Airspace System-certified elements, such as the ASR-11 airport surveillance radar and STARS,” a Raytheon spokesman said in an email. “This approach provides the lowest risk implementation to the government and takes advantage of in-place logistics support and training capabilities to offer an extremely cost-effective solution.”
Lockheed Martin, teaming with ARINC Inc., will provide a version of its TPS-79 tactical surveillance radar as well as Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-certified air traffic management software, the company said in a statement. Lockheed Martin’s deployable radar system will provide regional coverage and aircraft separation, similar to a typical civilian airport, on-demand through a transportable surveillance radar and air traffic control operations shelter.
ARINC, a provider of communications, engineering and integration solutions for commercial, defense and government customers, will provide the transportable operations shelter.
“As long-term leaders in the aviation industry, Lockheed Martin and ARINC specifically bring more than 50 years of tactical radar and air traffic control innovation to this project,” Paul Goulette, Lockheed Martin director of air traffic control systems, said in a statement. “Every day across the globe, 60 percent of the world’s commercial air traffic and more than 80 percent of oceanic air space is monitored, and controlled, by Lockheed Martin air traffic control systems.”