EADS Builds Coastal Surveillance Radar for Estonia
Million-euro contract for the protection of the external EU border
Ulm, 12 September 2001
EADS, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, will build a coastal surveillance radar for Estonia. As reported by the company on Wednesday, the EADS Business Unit Systems & Defence Electronics has been awarded the contract for the implementation of an advanced coastal protection system by the Estonian Ministry of the Interior. The contract is worth a total of EUR 26 million.
Dr. Stefan Zoller, Head of the EADS Business Unit Systems & Defence Electronics: "We are glad that this new radar system will be built for the first time in Estonia and will thus prove our system capability. Among others, this advanced coastal protection system also has a significant political function for the Republic of Estonia. With this system, Estonia will be able to meet the stringent requirements on the protection of external borders which are essential for joining the EU".
The project "Coastal Surveillance Radar for Estonia" allows the continuous surveillance of Estonia's coastal region by a total of 20 X-band radar systems. The contract also covers four regional operation centres and one national operation centre in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The complete surveillance system will be operated by the Estonian Board of Border Guard by recording and monitoring all ships and flying objects. This system aims at safeguarding the national sovereignty (e.g. illegal immigration), monitoring the national economic interests, e.g. fishery limits, and improving environmental protection by active control of the shipping traffic. Furthermore, the radar chain also performs sea and accident rescue tasks. This is enabled by a new product development of the Ulm-based Naval Systems Programme Unit allowing integrated air and sea target tracking and the display of detected targets on one screen.
With revenues amounting to 24.2 billion euros (2000) and a workforce of 100,000 employees, EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company is the largest aerospace and defence company in Europe and number two world-wide.
Ulm, September 12, 2001/03001
For further information:
Business Unit Systems & Defence Electronics
Michael Hartwig, Tel. +49(0)7545-8-9124, Fax: -8-5888
E-Mail: michael.hartwig@dornier.eads.net
