Deal inked with French company to install new radar system at HISA

Bangladesh and France have signed an agreement to install an ultra-modern radar system for ensuring strict surveillance on waters as well as airspace of the country.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has struck a deal with Thales LSS of France to set up the cutting edge radar with CNS/ATM which stands for communication, navigation and surveillance of air traffic management at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh chairman Air-Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman and representative of the radar manufacturer Thales LSS signed the contract on behalf of their sides for the next three years at a city hotel on Thursday. 

Md. Mahbub Ali, state minister for the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, its secretary Md. Mokammel Hossain and ambassador of France to Bangladesh Jean-Marin Schuh were also present at the deal signing ceremony.

After the deal was signed, Md. Mahbub Ali said, “The country’s entire airspace will come under strict surveillance once the new ultra-modern radar system is set up. So that external aircraft, which use international routes without giving due charges for using Bangladesh sky, will be detected and charges will also be collected from them.” 

As the country’s airspace will be more secured now with the setting up of these radar systems along with ATC towers, aircraft flying will also be safer than ever before while the amount of revenue from the aviation sector will also be increased, he said.

State minister also said, “Our aviation sector is now booming with international standards as the sky links are being expanded through various development projects. As part of this, various development projects have already completed at different airports while the third ultra-modern terminal project at HSIA is underway.”

The procurement proposal for purchasing the modern radar system from the French company was approved at a virtual meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase on June 08, 2021, with an aim at enhancing the country’s airspace safety and security.

According to CAAB sources, the installation of the new radar is expected to take roughly three years and will cost Tk658.4 crore, which will come entirely from the public exchequer.

Earlier, a memorandum of understanding, which was jointly drafted by CAAB and Thales LAS France SAS, was signed on November 3, 2020, to implement the project under a government-to-government deal.

The agreement includes the supply, installation, and operation of navigation and surveillance systems, including radar and related air traffic management equipment.

According to the deal, the data collected through the radar must be kept secret by the French company to ensure that the airspace security is not compromised.

CAAB officials say, Bangladesh acquired a long maritime boundary and it’s not possible to charge the external flights that use our airspace at present as the entire area cannot be covered with the existing the 37-year-old analog radar system which was installed at the HSIA.

This new radar will also be able to establish its surveillance over Bangladesh territorial areas including waters and airspace, they also claim.