Sydney Airport comms upgrade

L3Harris Technologies has been awarded the initial planning and design phase of a potential US$343 million, 10-year contract to modernise Airservices Australia’s enterprise-wide telecommunications network, working with Australian partners.

Under the first phase, L3Harris will design organisation-wide voice and data networking, VHF radio communications and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) surveillance capability to Australia’s air navigation system. In partnership with Airservices, L3Harris will lead a consortium to plan and design an integrated, enterprise system to support all telecommunications, radio communications, ADS-B surveillance and network services for the National Airways System, including support for civil aviation, aviation rescue and firefighting services.

For the initial planning and design phase of the program, the consortium members will provide the following services: NTT Australia will provide overall network and site design for the enterprise and operational, air traffic network and telecommunications; Thales Australia will provide system design for the new ADS-B surveillance service and engineering services to ensure safe and secure implementation; Rohde & Schwarz Australia will provide design services to modernise the nationwide VHF radio network with their latest version of voice-over-IP VHF air traffic control radios; and Ventia will provide site audit, system site design and installation planning services for this initial phase of the program.