Monday, March 26, 2012 -
French defense technology firm Thales said it has secured a contract from Turkmenistan to upgrade the air control systems at Ashgabat Airport.
The deal, made with Turkmen State Civil Aviation Department Turkmenhowayollary envisages installation of an air traffic management system at the biggest of the country’s two international airports.
The company did not disclose the value of the deal.
The firm’s latest-generation TopSky system is designed to control aircraft en-route, approaching and departing Ashgabat Airport, located six miles northwest of the capital city.
The operations will be assisted by its STAR 2000 S-bank primary airport surveillance radar co-mounted with a secondary RSM970S mode S radar.
The radar system has a range of 60 to 100 nautical miles 69-115 statute miles).
Thales will integrate communications, navigation, and surveillance equipment at the airport, as well as provide operator training.
The airport has a single air traffic control tower and three runways. The shortest runway is not lighted, Thales noted.
The French firm began developing the country’s airports shortly after Turkmenistan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. French President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed a few months ago to assist in the modernization of Turkmenistan.