Thales to strengthen Romanian Air Force resilience with deployable radar and landing systems

•             The Romanian Ministry of National Defence renews its trust in Thales by selecting the company to provide four deployable primary and secondary radar systems, supporting both civil and military airspace surveillance and approach and landing operations.

•             The systems will enhance the Romanian Air Force’s ability to relocate operations and operate from alternative sites, reducing reliance on fixed airbase infrastructure and strengthening operational resilience.

•             Under a multiannual contract, delivery to four Romanian Air Force locations will be phased, with systems scheduled for delivery by 2030. The radars will provide real-time target data to national and NATO command-and-control systems, 24/7 and in all weather conditions.

  The four deployable Ground Controlled Approach Radar Systems will provide air traffic controllers with precise, real-time information on aircraft position relative to the runway centreline and glide path, supporting approaches and recoveries when visual references are limited. This will enable Romanian Air Force personnel to safely manage aircraft movements in demanding operational environments, including at locations where fixed infrastructure may not be available or sufficient.

STAR NG is a scalable S-Band Primary Surveillance Radar designed for Approach Control, providing coverage of up to 60 Nautical Miles across civil and military applications, including airports and air base environments. Complementing it, Thales’ RSM NG/IFF combines NATO Mode 5 and EUROCONTROL Mode S interrogation with ADS‑B detection in a single system, enabling aircraft identification across key defence and civil standards. Thales will also install four Precision Approach Radars (PARs) to support the safe and accurate control of all types of aircraft during approach and landing, including in challenging weather and low-visibility conditions.

By selecting a deployable, interoperable and dual-use solution, Romania is strengthening resilient airspace surveillance and air traffic control across its territory. The integrated surveillance, identification and precision approach capabilities will provide operators with a more complete air picture and seamless interoperability with national and NATO command-and-control architectures. This investment places Romania among the leading nations in mobile and interoperable military air traffic management, enhancing its ability to respond rapidly to evolving operational requirements.

Cybersecure by design, the systems comply with the latest EUROCONTROL and ICAO recommendations and will strengthen Romania’s airspace surveillance and interoperability with NATO, supporting enhanced situational awareness on NATO’s eastern flank.

The programme will draw on Thales’ strong local presence and expertise in Romania, with the Romanian team working closely with the Ministry of National Defence and local stakeholders to support deployment, integration and long-term availability. This will be complemented by Thales’ global expertise in military air traffic control and surveillance, ensuring operational value from deployment through to sustained operations. With almost 60 years of air traffic control and surveillance expertise, Thales has delivered more than 1,200 systems delivered across more than 100 countries, supporting civil and military customers worldwide.

    “We are honored by the trust placed in Thales by the Romanian Government. By choosing our deployable dual-use radars, Romania will be able to reply on the robustness and reliability of our global military air traffic control solutions, and count on our commitment to supporting its efforts to enhance its airspace and its interoperability with NATO.” Lionel de Castellane, Vice President Air Traffic and Coastal Radars, Thales.

photo courtesy Thales