AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, March 7 (UPI) -- Air traffic control radar at a Dutch air base is being upgraded by Raytheon to eliminate false readings caused by nearby wind turbine farms.
Under the contract from the Netherlands Ministry of Defense, changes to be implemented -- a combination of hardware and software changes to the primary surveillance radar system -- at the base in Woensdrecht will "nullify" the presence of wind turbines and significantly improve detection of aircraft targets.
"Raytheon's solution will enable the Royal Netherlands Air Force and the energy provider to continue to operate in harmony," said Ed Sullivan, surveillance director for Raytheon's Network Centric Systems business.
"The elimination of interference caused by the wind turbines supports the RNLAF in carrying out its mission safely and securely, while the wind farm can continue to generate clean and affordable energy."
The blades of wind turbines generate large false targets, making it difficult for controllers to discriminate between false and genuine aircraft. With wider use of wind farms to produce cleaner energy, Raytheon is applying its radar and signal data processing expertise to develop systems that allow wind turbines to be safely located near radar facilities.
The value of the contract wasn't disclosed but Raytheon said it will implement the radar system modification by the end of this year.
