VAN NUYS, Calif., 22 July 2014. Exelis (NYSE:XLS) won a $9 million contract to provide advanced military air traffic management (ATM) capabilities to the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG).
Exelis will supply its GCA-2020 precision ground control approach radar to support the SANG’s growing aviation mission requirements, under a foreign military sales (FMS) contract. The award comes from U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.
The first Exelis radar to be installed in Saudi Arabia, the GCA-2020 is a solid-state, electronically scanning radar with three integrated functions: primary surveillance, secondary surveillance, and precision approach. The technology will enable the SANG to provide sophisticated landing guidance and manage air traffic control (ATC) operations while meeting the most demanding flight safety standards.
“This award deepens our important relationship with Saudi Arabia and the wider region,” says Dave Prater, Exelis vice president and general manager of the Exelis radar, reconnaissance, and undersea systems business. “As a leader in the growing field of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and analytics, Exelis is committed to supporting our international customers’ evolving missions with these types of critical capabilities.”
This contract marks the 12th international order Exelis has received for precision air traffic management radars over the past nine months. Recent orders from Poland, Sweden, Estonia, and Saudi Arabia have a combined value of more than $100 million.
More than 70 years ago, Exelis pioneered the development of air traffic control and 3D air defense radars for tactical and naval applications, officials reveal. The company continues to supply air traffic control radar systems designed for military use. The GCA-2020 operates daily in environments ranging from the Arctic Circle and the deserts of Northern Africa to the rainforests of Asia and South America.
