By Andrea Eid, Materiel Group Internal Communications Co-op Student

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) installed the seventh and final radar system associated with the Area Surveillance Radar/Secondary Surveillance Radar (ASR/SSR) project at 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia.

Announced in 2013, the project was mandated to replace the aging Terminal Radar and Control Systems (TRACS) with six new air traffic control systems and one training system. The old radar equipment was replaced at six sites: 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec; 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta; 5 Wing Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador; 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario; 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia; and 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia.

Given the age and condition of the TRACS radars, this project was necessary to ensure the safety and efficiency of future RCAF air operations. With their cutting-edge technologies, the ASR/SSR systems will become the new cornerstone of air traffic control, providing reliable surveillance of Canadian airspace and tracking potential threats with greater accuracy than ever before.

The Wings need air traffic control surveillance to identify and control military and civilian aircrafts operating in Canadian airspace. The new systems provide accurate, real-time air traffic surveillance data to Canadian and Allied personnel whose job it is to help safeguard Canadian sovereignty.

“It is imperative that the Royal Canadian Air Force has the necessary tools and equipment to carry out its mandate. With the installation these new radars, I have no doubts that the Air Force will continue to carry out safe and successful air operations,” said Lieutenant-General Mike Hood, Commander of the RCAF.