Singapore awards Thales air traffic system contract

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore has selected Thales to develop a new air traffic management system and air traffic control radars for one of Asia's busiest airspaces.

The new system will replace Singapore's current LORADS III platform with Thales' TopSky - ATC One system and add two next-generation air traffic control radars. The platform is intended to support rising air traffic demand and is scheduled to enter operational service by 2030.

The NexGen Air Traffic Management System is designed to handle up to one million aircraft movements a year. The programme also includes knowledge transfer, with CAAS officers set to join the project office in France alongside localisation work in Singapore.

Singapore is upgrading its air traffic control infrastructure as regional travel demand continues to rise. The planned system will introduce an integrated air traffic control environment using automation, cybersecurity tools and artificial intelligence-based software.

At the centre of the rollout is TopSky - ATC One, which provides air traffic controllers with real-time decision-support tools, streamlined workflows and a human-machine interface designed for daily operations. The system also includes TopSky - Sequencer, an artificial intelligence-based sequencing tool intended to manage aircraft arrival and departure flows.

According to Thales, the sequencing technology is expected to reduce delays, fuel consumption and carbon emissions. The system will also comply with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and Singapore's cybersecurity requirements.

Radar upgrade

Alongside the software overhaul, Thales will deploy two new air traffic control radars to provide round-the-clock aircraft detection. The radars are designed to operate even in difficult weather conditions.

The radar systems will be integrated into the wider air traffic management architecture, allowing controllers to access surveillance data in the same environment. The combination of radar and non-radar technologies is intended to improve situational awareness in the control room.

Thales has had a presence in Singapore since 1973 and previously worked with CAAS on the LORADS III system. The latest award extends a long-running relationship in the city-state's aviation sector and strengthens the group's position in air traffic management in Asia-Pacific.

The company employs more than 2,000 people in Singapore across four locations and operates in sectors including aeronautics, defence, public security, cybersecurity and digital identity. It also runs industrial operations in the country for avionics and digital identity products.

Globally, Thales has more than 85,000 employees in 65 countries. The group reported sales of €22.1 billion in 2025 and allocates €4.5 billion a year to research and development in fields including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies.

The Singapore award reflects continued investment by aviation authorities in modernising air navigation systems as flight volumes recover and long-term regional traffic growth returns. For Singapore, the upgrade is aimed at increasing capacity while maintaining the safe handling of aircraft movements through congested airspace.

The system's open architecture is intended to support future upgrades and the integration of third-party tools as operational needs change. That may give CAAS more flexibility to adapt the platform over time without replacing the full system again.

Knowledge transfer is also a notable part of the contract. By placing CAAS officers in the project office in France and running localisation work in Singapore, the programme is designed to give the authority direct exposure to development and deployment processes.

A senior executive at Thales described the award as an extension of the company's established partnership with Singapore's aviation authority.

"We are honoured to continue our long-standing partnership with CAAS on such an ambitious programme for Singapore. NexGen ATMS represents a new chapter in Singapore's air traffic management. Thales' strong installed base and our joint experience delivering transformative projects with CAAS, such as LORADS III, have enabled us to test, co-innovate, and develop future-ready solutions that will support the safe and efficient management of air traffic for years to come," said Pascale Sourisse, Senior Executive Vice-President, International Development, Thales.