Thales to supply US Air Force with deployable ILS systems

Thales has received an order from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to provide three Deployable – Instrument Landing Systems (D-ILS). These advanced, mobile systems are a crucial element in military airfield environments where the ability to quickly set-up, activate, break-down and re-locate precision guidance capability for aircraft on final approach, especially during low visibility or low-ceiling weather conditions, is key.

Thales D-ILS offer significantly improved reliability, maintainability and supportability over legacy deployable Precision Approach Radar systems. Thales’ D-ILS provides the equivalent of fixed-based Instrument Landing System capability at tactical airfields, fixed bases and other diverse applications such as areas of natural disaster or humanitarian relief efforts.

This order is part of the D-ILS contract announcement made in August 2015. In addition to the three D-ILS systems, this order includes the establishment of a production line at the Thales’ facility in Clarksburg, Maryland. Thales will modify its Clarksburg manufacturing facility for the ability to manufacture up to one system a month, starting next year.

Thales has extensive experience in designing and supplying Navigation and Surveillance systems in configurations that meet the unique needs of customers worldwide. For more than 80 years, Thales has partnered with the aviation community, providing air traffic management solutions to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as Air Navigation Service Providers and airports worldwide. Today, over 99 percent of the instrument landing systems at U.S. airports are Thales systems, and more than 7,000 Thales navigation aids are deployed around the world.