Leonardo to provide ATC systems in Somalia and Sudan

Italian technology company Leonardo has secured two contracts to provide air traffic control (ATC) systems in Somalia and Sudan.

The development allows the company to increase its footprint in the African ATC domain.

The new systems are expected to improve ATC efficiency and safety in both countries.

Under the first contract with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which agreed to the deal on behalf of the Somalian Federal Government, Leonardo is set to provide a national area control centre (ACC) and three tower control centres for three major airports.

The facilities will serve a total of 16 operator control positions.

Leonardo will also offer a VHF radio system and satellite network to Somalia.

Scheduled to become operational next year, the systems will be responsible for the total management and control of the Somali air traffic.

The national ACC is expected to integrate multiple products and tools in accordance with operational requirements and air traffic management environments.

Leonardo also expects to provide a nationwide automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) network to the Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) in a bid to upgrade four secondary radar systems.

The ADS-B surveillance technology enables an aircraft to find out its position using satellite navigation and broadcast it at regular intervals, resulting in easier tracking.

Aircraft equipped with the technology can transmit information about altitude, airspeed, and location to Leonardo ground stations, allowing ATC controllers to improve traffic management.

The company noted that the secondary radars will be upgraded to the SIR-S/I model, equipped with embedded ADS-B functionality, to ensure simpler aircraft identification, improved situational awareness and safety.

Leonardo already supplies air traffic management solutions in Ethiopia, Morocco, Senegal, Kenya.