As the skies grow busier and the demands on air traffic management reach new heights, Thales steps forward with a breakthrough in surveillance technology. TRAC SIGMA is set to transform both civil and military aviation, ensuring greater safety, precision, and efficiency in air traffic control. Discover how this cutting-edge radar system is shaping the future of aviation.
Thales Unveils TRAC SIGMA: A New Era in Air Traffic Surveillance
As air traffic continues to soar and skies become increasingly congested, ensuring the safety and coordination of all aircraft has never been more crucial. Enter TRAC SIGMA, Thales’ latest innovation in radar technology—an advanced, multi-mission Primary Surveillance Radar designed to meet the evolving demands of both civil and military airspace management.
The Growing Challenge of Modern Airspace
With the global number of flights increasing each year, airspace is becoming a limited and precious resource. Civil and military aircraft are now sharing tighter corridors of sky, operating at various altitudes, and sometimes even in overlapping zones.
This congestion has led to a growing need for technologies that not only detect but precisely discriminate aircraft, no matter their size or altitude. As international aviation bodies like the ICAO push for tighter minimum separation standards, such as maintaining a 3 Nautical Mile (NM) buffer throughout all flight phases—not just final approach—the demand for cutting-edge surveillance systems has skyrocketed.
What Makes TRAC SIGMA Stand Out
A Multi-Mission Radar for Modern Needs
TRAC SIGMA is the only Primary Surveillance Radar (PSR) in its category that offers a unique combination of long-range and approach surveillance capabilities within a single system. Whether guiding an aircraft during takeoff and landing or tracking a high-speed military jet across 300 kilometers, TRAC SIGMA delivers comprehensive 3D surveillance.
Unparalleled Detection at Extended Range
One of TRAC SIGMA’s standout features is its ability to detect and discriminate small aircraft at an extended range of up to 300KM. This capability ensures that air traffic controllers can enforce the 3NM separation rule across the entire controlled airspace—not just at the runway.
Enhanced Coordination Between Civil and Military Operations
Thanks to its dual-use functionality, TRAC SIGMA supports seamless integration between civil and military air traffic control systems. This fosters faster, more accurate coordination and dramatically reduces the risk of mid-air conflicts.
Built on Proven Technology
TRAC SIGMA is not an entirely new development but rather the next evolution in Thales’s renowned TRAC radar family. With over 1,200 radar systems deployed in more than 100 countries, Thales is a global leader in air traffic control solutions.
This new radar inherits the reliability, availability, and robust performance of its predecessors while integrating the latest in digital signal processing, 3D detection capabilities, and cybersecurity compliance. It’s not just a product—it’s the result of over 50 years of dedicated expertise in radar innovation.
Performance You Can Trust
Resistant to Jamming and Interference
In a world where electronic warfare and cyber threats are becoming part of aviation risk management, TRAC SIGMA is built to withstand intentional jamming and signal interference. This ensures mission-critical information remains uninterrupted and reliable.
Full Redundancy for Maximum Reliability
The radar offers hot-swap capabilities and full redundancy across all components, allowing for continuous operation even during maintenance. This feature significantly boosts uptime and ensures that air traffic controllers always have eyes on the sky.
Compliance With Global Standards
TRAC SIGMA fully complies with international aviation and defense regulations, making it suitable for deployment in any country that needs cutting-edge radar performance without compromising legal or technical requirements.
Designed for Efficiency and Sustainability
Optimized Infrastructure and Lower Life-Cycle Costs
One radar, multiple missions—that’s the philosophy behind TRAC SIGMA. By combining long-range and approach surveillance in a single platform, users can minimize infrastructure needs, reduce energy consumption, and streamline training for operators.
This two-in-one approach not only improves operational performance but also significantly reduces life-cycle costs, making TRAC SIGMA a future-proof investment for airspace authorities.
A Trusted Vision from Thales
Eric Huber, Vice President of Surface Radars at Thales, summarized the company’s ambition with this new launch:
“With over 50 years’ experience in this field, Thales is continuously investing to lead the latest innovations in the Air Traffic Control radar market, helping ensure safer skies. TRAC SIGMA offers a single sensor for simultaneous approach and long-range surveillance supporting all air traffic control missions, and enables ATCOs to meet the challenges related to optimizing an increasingly congested airspace.”
TRAC SIGMA embodies this vision—helping air traffic controllers around the world make safer, quicker, and more informed decisions.
In Conclusion: Safer Skies, One Radar at a Time
In today’s airspace, safety is not just about seeing what’s directly ahead—it’s about understanding the entire sky. With TRAC SIGMA, Thales empowers air traffic controllers to do just that.
Whether managing the delicate dance of commercial airliners on final approach or coordinating high-speed military flights across vast distances, this new radar system offers unmatched precision, reliability, and integration.
If the skies are getting busier, TRAC SIGMA is the calm, watchful eye that ensures everyone gets to their destination—safely and efficiently.
As aviation continues to evolve, one thing is clear: the future of air traffic surveillance is here, and its name is TRAC SIGMA.
