France Selects Collins Aerospace's Mobile Air Traffic Control System

The French DGA has chosen Collins Aerospace's ATNAVICS for the Armée de Terre, joining the U.S. military in using this advanced mobile air traffic control system for rapid deployment and precision landing capabilities.

The French Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) has selected Collins Aerospace’s vehicle-mounted Air Traffic Navigation, Integration, and Coordination System (ATNAVICS) to enhance the tactical control, approach, and landing capabilities of the French Army (Armée de Terre). The announcement was made at Eurosatory during a signing ceremony with representatives from both parties.

ATNAVICS is designed to provide rapid deployment of air traffic services, enabling troops and equipment to be quickly deployed to remote locations or used in humanitarian missions under severe conditions. The system is compact, lightweight, and highly mobile, making it ideal for field operations.

Dr. Bruce Brown, Vice President of Business Development Mission Systems at Collins Aerospace, highlighted the benefits: "The selection by the DGA of our mobile air traffic control systems will provide French forces with expeditionary air traffic management capabilities. Our mission-proven system is designed to provide field operations with on-demand surveillance, precision landing, and identification friend-or-foe capabilities."

ATNAVICS stands out as the only fully autonomous and complete mobile Ground Controlled Approach system that complies with International Civil Aviation Organization standards. It has been rigorously tested for battlefield operation and survivability, boasting over two decades of service with the U.S. military. With 54 systems currently in operation, ATNAVICS continues to receive upgrades and enhancements to maintain its cutting-edge functionality.

Colonel Aurélie from the Direction Générale de l’Armement expressed optimism about the new capabilities: "We look forward to receiving this new capability, which will enable our forces to quickly open up theaters of operation. The system can be deployed in less than an hour using a single military transport aircraft."

This acquisition aligns France with the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Air Force, who have successfully utilized ATNAVICS for rapid ground control approach deployment. The system’s portability and efficiency ensure that French forces will have a reliable air traffic control solution in various operational scenarios.

ATNAVICS' proven track record and continuous enhancements make it a robust choice for modern military operations, ensuring operational readiness and flexibility for the French Army.