DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH ready for COMSOFT SDDS-NG

KARLSRUHE/Germany, August 2014 – The ANSP of Germany, DFS, is ready to roll out COMSOFT’s state-of-the-art Surveillance Data Distribution System (SDDS-NG), at its four ATM centres across Germany, allowing for advanced exchange of surveillance data over an IP-based network.

SDDS-NG is COMSOFT’s answer to an evolving ATC industry that requires more flexibility and greater efficiency of data exchange. SDDS-NG continues the extensive success of COMSOFT’s first generation of Radar Message Conversion and Distribution System (RMCDS) for NATS in the UK or, even more prominently, the flagship product RMCDE, created on behalf of EUROCONTROL. It therefore supports full integration and interoperability with the European Radar Data Network (RADNET). By directly incorporating legacy serial interfaces and a multitude of communication protocols and data formats, still in use around the world – a distinct feature proven to be unique to SDDS-NG from COMSOFT – SDDS-NG has been made fit for the next generation.

German ATC expert COMSOFT and German ANSP DFS have worked together for over 20 years, since carrying out RMCDE and, with its unmatched track record, DFS selected COMSOFT’s next generation solution in light of their past experience in COMSOFT’s performance and quality. Thorough and comprehensive testing of SDDS-NG was also carried out by DFS in 2013, proving the system’s ability and proficiency.

More than three million aircraft take off from, land on, or fly over German territory each year, and the network of eight SDDS-NG systems, located at four German Air Traffic Control centres in Karlsruhe, Munich, Langen near Frankfurt and Bremen, will be of considerable benefit to German ATC, initially running in parallel with DFS current RADNET, set to run for the next few years.

The advanced SDDS-NG system is already in use by the Brazilian Airforce (Força Aérea Brasileira - FAB), Isavia of Iceland, and in Indonesia, as well as an integral part of a number of further projects.

SDDS-NG facilitates a uniform connection of all surveillance sensors using the ASTERIX standard. It was designed and developed to cover complete surveillance requirements, while also recognising and complying with latest safety standards.