Surface Movement Radar (SMR)

Copperchase’s SMR (Surface Movement Radar) gives air traffic control (ATC) teams a reliable, real-time view of every aircraft, vehicle and obstacle on the airport surface. Our airport Surface Movement Radar, also known as ground movement radar, works day and night in all weather, including fog, heavy rain and low-visibility operations, when the controller cannot see the movement area from the tower.

Primary surveillance of non-cooperative targets. Unlike ADS-B and Multilateration (MLAT), the SMR does not rely on a transponder. It detects every target on the runways, taxiways and aprons, including ground vehicles, aircraft with an inoperative transponder and foreign objects. This makes it the essential primary sensor for airport surface surveillance and runway incursion prevention.

Engineered with ICS Technologies. Copperchase has partnered with ICS Technologies S.p.A. of Italy, a radar specialist with more than 25 years’ experience in airport, coastal and defence surveillance. ICS is a NATO supplier and a member of EUROCAE, IALA and IHMA. Together we install, operate and maintain advanced SMR systems for civil and military airports in the UK and worldwide.

The foundation of our A-SMGCS. The SMR is a core sensor in the Copperchase A-SMGCS (Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System), with deployments at airports worldwide from 2027. It fuses with the Copperchase ADS-B Surveillance System and MLAT on one Traffic Situation Display. The Copperchase SMR (Surface Movement Radar) can also be supplied as a standalone system, with full turn-key delivery: site survey, installation, integration, training and through-life support.

Find out more about Copperchase Surface Movement Radar and air traffic control products.