The Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Sunday signed a contract with Leonardo S.p.A. of Italy for supplying, installing and operating a new sophisticated radar at Hamad International Airport (HIA).

The contract signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Transport and Communications HE Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar Al Baker, CAA Chairman HE Abdulla bin Nasser Turki al-Subaiey and Italian Ambassador in Doha HE Alessandro Prunas.

The contract was signed by the Director of Financial and Administrative Affairs Department and Tender Committee Chair, CAA, Ali Hamad Al-Kuwari, and Branch Director, Leonardo S.p.A., Abdallah Mroue.

The new radar, to be supplied and installed by the Italian firm, will be added to existing radars at HIA, thus maintaining the airport’s position as one of the best in the world as the new terminal will be equipped with the latest, sophisticated radars in line with QNV2030.

The new radar will effectively contribute to keeping pace with the growing capacity of the airport and Qatari airspaces. It will also improve air traffic surveillance and enhance air navigation safety and security.

Contract for HIA’s Approach Surveillance Radar PSR & MSSR Signed.#Qatar @HIAQatar pic.twitter.com/LPq2LhA9U5

— وزارة المواصلات والاتصالات (@MOTC_QA) November 29, 2020

The new device will also facilitate surveillance and control over an increasing air navigation activity in Qatar particularly during major events Qatar is hosting over the coming years on top of which is the FIFA World Cup 2022.

The radar will be surveilling aircraft movement and identifying them within Qatar’s airspace and the surrounding regions with a coverage range of nearly 230 nautical miles off the center of the radar.