In order to increase Mexico´s air-traffic surveillance capabilities, the Air Force is about to spend 250 million USD for a number of state-of-the-art radars.
According to the Mexican Air Force, the ground-based radars already in use are “obsolete” since they have been in continuous operation for more than 16 years without replacement.
The new radars –also ground based- will be operated by the Integrated Air-Surveillance System (SIVA in Spanish), Mexico’s most advanced radar surveillance platform.
Although SIVA’s backbone is comprised of ground-based radar facilities, it also operates airborne platforms such as the Embraer 145 AEW&C and the Embraer 145 RS/AGS. The Fairchild C-26 Metro is also a key element of the system.
In MXSECUITY we believe that SIVA’s new radars should increase air-to-air drug traffic interdiction operations. However it also raises a key question: is the Air Force’s air-interdiction fleet ready for the challenge? We believe not.
There is an urgent need to replace the ageing fleet of Northrop F-5 Tiger II and Pilatus PC-7.
SIVA’s success depends on it.
Adendum:
The Mexican Navy operates its own radar-surveillance platform based in the Gulf of Mexico. The Thales Raytheon AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radars provide air surveillance coverage over Mexico’s main oil production facilities in that region of the country.
Excellent analysis, we hope this modernization helps to reduce the menace of the DTO’s on their effort to still using Mexico as a plataform for distribution to USA and a developing market for drugs.
Also I’m agree on the need to get modern air fleet to intercept DTO’s planes.
I was a follower of your last blog, I hope this one keep with us on the blogsphere for long time.
Dear Alejandro, I really appreciate your comments.
The new radars will boost Mexico’s anti DTO’s operations, as you pointed out.
As of my new blog, I will do my best. I also hope you will keep visiting.
Regards.