Thales has been awarded a contract by the Ministry of Transport & Communications of the Sultanate of Oman to supply, install and commission 10 ILS /DME systems and 6 DVOR/DME systems to Muscat and Salalah international airports, as well as to 5 regional airports located in Sohar, Al Duqm, Adam, Ras Al Hadd, and Haima.

The contract, which is already in force, will modernize Oman's current navigation surveillance capabilities, contributing towards a considerable increase in flight safety. The recent air traffic growth in the Persian Gulf region has led to a crucial need for modernization of the Sultanate of Oman's transport infrastructure, along with Oman's ambition to increase tourism.

Thales has supported Oman's Ministry of Transport & Communications and Directorate General of Meteorology & Air Navigation (DGMAN) for more than 20 years, supplying reliable navigation aids as well as providing field services and operational support.

Olivier Badard, President, Thales Middle East and Western Asia, says: "This contract further increases our footprint in the region and is an acknowledgement of our capabilities and expertise in navigation surveillance systems. Oman's Ministry of Transportation has chosen Thales's latest generation equipment to replace its existing navigation aids, and enabling them to improve landing capability and increase flight safety."

The new navigation systems will be deployed nationwide in 3 packages (A, B and C), themselves divided into 9 phases. Packages A and B and related phases, which will begin immediately, include delivery, installation and commissioning of 6 ILS and 2 DVOR systems for Muscat and Salalah International Airports. Package C will include delivery, installation and commissioning of 4 ILS and 4 DVOR navigation systems for Sohar, Al Duqm, Adam, Ras Al Hadd, and Haima regional airports.