Argentina boosts border radars to “build barrier to prevent drug trafficking”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Argentine Ministry of Defense, led by Agustín Rossi, is boosting the National System of Aerospace Surveillance and Control (SINVICA), by installing a new Argentine Primary Radar 240 (RPA 240) in the Santa Fe town of Tostado, which complements the country’s radar installation plan that extends from the northern to the southern border, according to an official note.

“We are working to set up a double line of radars to enhance the control of all air traffic and, essentially, to build a barrier to prevent drug trafficking,” reported Minister Rossi on the initiative to reactivate the domestic production of radars with state-of-the-art technology, through an agreement signed with the state-owned company INVAP SE (Institute of Applied Research).

Last Wednesday, March 3rd -when announcing the production of these 5 new radars- President Alberto Fernández and Minister Rossi supervised the operation of the 3D radar RPA 240, located in one of INVAP’s facilities in Bariloche, Río Negro province.

The Minister recalled that this long-range 3D aerial surveillance radar -with a 400 km radius- is currently in operation at the international airport of the city of Bariloche, in the Río Negro province, and pointed out: “The Mayor of Tostado, Enrique Mualem, his Secretary of State, Fernando Rotela, along with the Director of Aerospace Surveillance Systems, Commander Reigert, and Air Force authorities, are touring and assessing the area where the radar will be located, which will be completed with construction works for its installation, expected during the course of this year.”

Regarding the so-called first line of radars, Rossi pointed out that they are located in border areas, specifically in Tartagal (Salta); in San Pedro and Posadas (Misiones); in Resistencia (Chaco); and in the Formosa towns of Las Lomitas, Pirané and Ingeniero Juárez.

The second line of radars include Mercedes (Corrientes); Villaguay (Entre Ríos); Merlo (Buenos Aires); and soon to be incorporated systems in Tostado (Santa Fe); Taco Pozo and Charata (Chaco); and Río Grande (Tierra del Fuego).

The last 3 radars will be produced at INVAP along with 2 others to replace the radars currently operating in Resistencia and Posadas. The production of these 5 units of the Argentine Primary Radar 200 (RPA-200) to boost air surveillance will require an investment of 9,200 million Argentine pesos in 3 years, with resources coming from a specific allocation of the FONDEF (National Defense Fund).

Source: Infogate