Norway relies on Thales to modernise its Tactical Air Navigation Systems

The Norwegian Defence Material Agency has awarded a contract to Thales for the deployment of 14 Tactical Air Navigation Aids (TACAN) to modernise and replace the country’s existing systems. Used primarily by military aircraft pilots, the TCAN provides bearing and distance information to ease navigation, particularly in harsh weather conditions.

The Thales solution consists of a dual TACAN ground beacon 553 with antenna, remote control and monitoring systems. It will be installed at various sites and militaryairbases across the country thus ensuring full coverage of the Norwegian military airspace. This contract also includes the provision of training, documentation and spares parts. The Thales TACAN system is used by 14 other NATO countries.

Thales TACANs are the most advanced on the market, featuring high reliability, adaptation to the most difficult locations, improved accuracy performance and extended VHF Radio Frequency spectrum for simultaneous interrogation of up to 200 aircraft as well as an innovative human machine interface (HMI).  The dual configuration of this system makes it highly available and capable of supporting civil air navigation with integrated Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) functionality.

Thales is the world leader in the sector of Navigation Aids with 7000 Navaids installed in 170 countries and it has been providing TACAN systems to Norway for approximately 30 years.