Developed to combat bird strikes, one of the biggest threats to aviation safety, Türkiye's first national Bird Detection Radar (KUŞRAD) makes the "invisible" visible at airports with its superior technical features. Developed in collaboration between TÜBİTAK BİLGEM and DHMİ, the system combines S-band and X-band radar technologies to simultaneously track birds, flocks, and aircraft within a 40-kilometer radius.
Developed to maximize flight safety in civil aviation and to schedule flights to optimal times according to migration routes, KUŞRAD is actively playing a role in the field after a six-year intensive R&D process. More than just a radar, the system provides critical decision support to air traffic controllers (ATC) by analyzing distance, altitude, direction, speed, and route information.
24/7 "Volume-Based" Tracking
KUŞRAD is designed to detect migratory birds soaring in critical areas around the airport. 24/7 uninterrupted It is working. The system's greatest capability is its ability to perform "3D Volumetric Detection" of aerial targets and to identify these targets. Bird, Bird Flock or Aircraft to be able to classify it as such.
The system, capable of performing detailed analysis under operator control, provides both visual and audible warnings for bird flocks entering critical areas, instantly alerting the control tower. All data obtained is recorded for statistical analysis and conforms to international aviation standards. In ASTERIX format It is being reported.
Technical Insight: Dual Radar Technology and Data Fusion
KUSHRAD is not a single radar unit, but two advanced radars operating at different frequencies. “"Data Fusion"” It's a hybrid technology marvel that works with (Data Fusion).
1. Horizontal Radar (YR – S Band):
- Job Title: Wide area scanning.
- Technology: S-band pulse radar.
- Range: Detection and tracking up to 40 kilometers.
- Strength: 60 kW peak power.
- Speed: With a rotation speed of 21 revolutions per minute, it never misses its targets.
- Resolution: It can identify targets with an accuracy of less than 20 meters.
2. Vertical Radar (DR – X-Band):
- Job Title: Altitude and detailed analysis.
- Technology: X-band Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar.
- Range: 20 kilometer vertical range.
- Sensibility: With a resolution of less than 6 meters, it captures even the smallest swarms.
- Doppler Processing: It analyzes the target's speed and direction at a microscopic level through more than 32 velocity level steps.
System, Mod 1‘while performing 3D volumetric detection, Mod 2‘It determines the nature of the target (is it a bird, an airplane, or a drone?) by performing sectoral and high-resolution Doppler analysis.
Sensor Campus and Operations Center
The national radar system consists of two main hardware units:
- Sensor Complex: This area, which houses horizontal and vertical radars, also includes meteorological measurement systems, GPS, and an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) that ensures the system operates under all conditions.
- Operations Center: The data processing hub. This includes server and storage units, operator interface consoles, and video recording systems that enable retrospective review. Remote access allows data to be shared instantly with relevant units over the network.
DHMI: Vision of an Institution Exporting Technology
With the KUŞRAD project, the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMİ) is adding the title of "technology developer" to its "operator" identity on the international stage. KUŞRAD, along with other domestically produced solutions such as the ATC Simulator and Aircraft Tracking System, continues to attract the attention of the global aviation industry at international aviation fairs.
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