Northrop Grumman subsidiary radio contracted for air traffic comms

Northrop Grumman’s UK-based air traffic communications subsidiary, Park Air Systems, has signed a so-called deed of standing offer to provide its T6 radio to air navigation service provider Airservices Australia. 

The internet protocol-(IP)capable, very high frequency ground-to-air equipment will be provided for a period of five years, and will accommodate a number of upcoming air traffic communication service expansions, network changes and relocations. 

It will also integrate with the Airservices OneSKY Australia programme, an air traffic management project to align civil and military aviation air traffic communications.

The primary demand for the project is to migrate to an IP-based network structure, supporting voice over internet protocol (VoIP) to an ED137 standard. 

Northrop says that this is suited to the varied Australian environment, and Park Air offered the T6 VHF equipment from its Sapphire portfolio, providing powerful IP capability, small form factor and low maintenance requirements.

Northrop says that Australia has remote locations, which can take up to three days to reach by car, so installing the R4 remote control and monitoring system and MARC server from the Park Air portfolio, Airservices Australia will be able to focus resources where they are most needed.

The MARC server is designed to enable alerts and intelligence to a network configuration as well as diagnostics, providing assurance when dealing with a nationwide installation.

Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems supplies communications systems for airspace operations worldwide. 

Sapphire ATM communications systems are installed in more than 50 countries, and in its more than 50-year history, Park Air has sold 60,000 radios in 180 countries around the world, it says.