The ADATS Integrated Project Team (IPT) is responsible for providing clear focus and a single point of contact for the whole life management of current Air Defence sensors and Air Traffic Control sensors and systems.

Mission: To unite with key Stakeholders to maximise operational effectiveness through the delivery of air defence and air traffic systems. Vision: To be the Centre of Excellence for the through life management of air defence and air traffic systems in support of operations.

The ADATS IPT, led by Group Captain Maurice Dixon, sits within the Director General Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (DG ISTAR) Cluster within Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S).

The services provided by the ADATS IPT enable members of the RAF warfare, air traffic and fighter controllers and engineering branches to train and operate collectively in a coherent manner across Defence and provides Military Air Traffic Organisations with a safe, cost effective capability for the controlling of air vehicles.

With embedded enabling services of engineering, supply, commercial, technical, mechanical/electrical support and finance, the ADATS IPT is made up of some 190 Service and Civilian personnel based at RAF Brampton, RAF Henlow and RAF Spadeadam.

Equipment

The prime equipment delivered by the IPT is shown below:

Through Life Support of Air Traffic Control (ATC) Equipment

A multitude of equipment ranging from management radio to Electronic Toting*. ATC equipment is essential to the smooth and safe operation of military platforms; enabling operations, engineering, ATC, administration, and rescue services to perform their duties in a coherent and safe environment.

(*The Electronic Tote (ET) system installed at Army and RAF airfields, is a computer based military Air Traffic Control (ATC) information system that can display all the ATC related information to which Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) require access at their control positions. This includes aircraft movements and weather information.)

Through Life Support of Direction Finding Equipment

A mix of ground beacons and transponders that cover the radio frequency spectrum from Medium Frequency (MF) through to Ultra High Frequency (UHF) i.e. Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN), Digital Resolution Direction Finding (DRDF) and Instrument Landing System (ILS)

Through Life Support of Air Traffic and Air Defence Radars

Support of a range of surveillance and approach radars that provide information used by Air Traffic Controllers communicating with aircraft through IPT provided voice services.

Support of a range of Air Defence (AD) surveillance radars comprising mobile and fixed assets (including Type 92, Type 93 and Type 101 Radars), the Falkland Islands Remoting System and the Bridgemaster radar system sited at various air weapons ranges throughout the UK.

Through Life Support of Ground to Air Voice Equipment

Specialist ground to air voice radios operating mainly in the VHF and UHF frequency ranges providing a communication link between air vehicles and ground control services. Additionally, voice switching control equipment and ATC recording apparatus (a legal requirement) are provided.

Through Life Support of Ground Electronic Warfare (EW) and Data Handling Equipment

A mix of threat systems at the EW Tactics Range at RAF Spadeadam providing real-life threat evasion training to all NATO forces.

A variety of legacy AD specific data links enabling two-way data and voice exchange between ground, sea and air based UK and NATO Air Defence assets.

Technical Branch

Technical Branch is a key capability enabler within the ADATS IPT providing Radio, Radar and VHF/UHF Antenna Systems installation, design, fault investigation, equipment recovery and limited special to type design and manufacture. The prime services delivered by Technical Branch are project management, systems analysis for air defence and airfield radars, siting, installation and commissioning of airfield navigation aids, antenna tower installation, ground to air and ground to ground radio system installation, mechanical design and consultancy in support of communications equipment tasks and installation flight.

Provision of critical services

To demonstrate the safe operation of the critical services, the IPT manages a flight checking service to prove the efficacy of the various crucial ATC systems. Also provided is a managed antenna and radome maintenance service.

The systems managed by the IPT would be worthless without competent controllers. An important facet of the provision of a total service is, therefore, the support and management of a variety of specialist-training simulators enabling the training of ATC, Fighter Controller and Flight Operations operators in off-line environments.
 

Crown Copyright - www.mod.uk