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Army unaffected by radar shut off
2008-09-01 09:53:36
By Njonanje Samwel
The switching off of the combined civilian and military air traffic control system at the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) in Dar es Salaam has not affected military operations, the Defense and National Service spokesman has said.
The multi-billion shillings radar system, which the UK BAE Systems sold to Tanzania in 2001, has been non-operational for over a month, and there were fears that it might affect air surveillance.
The ministry spokesperson, Brigadier General Alfred Mbowe, told The Guardian in an exclusive interview in Dar es Salaam that the system was a three-dimensional air protection system with three components, one being civilian and the other two serving military purposes.
``The switching off of the radar has nothing to do with our air protection services. Functioning of the military air traffic components is technically good and has not experienced any glitch,`` he said.
He said the affected system`s channel was used for civilian purposes at the JNIA.
However, he said all three components of the radar had similar functions, but worked differently to suit a particular purpose.
Brigadier General Mbowe, who also doubles as Commissioner of Military Development, said during an interview that was held at the Tanzania People`s Defence Forces (TPDF) headquarters in Dar es Salaam that the ``country`s boundaries and its airspace are completely secured.``
Asked how the army had braced itself from any technical hitch on its channel, he said there was nothing to worry about, as the government had an agreement with the manufacturer for the servicing, maintenance and supply of spare parts.
``A BAE expert is based in the country to ensure there is routine servicing, maintenance and supplying of fast moving (frictional) spare parts to the military systems,`` said Brigadier Mbowe.
A TPDF aviation specialist, who preferred anonymity, said in a separate interview earlier in the week that there was signal reflection of the military radar beams to any airplane passing through the country\'s airspace.
According to him, this was a unique mechanism that helped those monitoring civilian aircrafts trace plane movements on the country`s airspace by seeking or being availed with the information from the military side.
``Military personnel in-charge of operating the component have to get and disseminate all the information to the TCAA (Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority).
It is not part of their official line of duty, but having civilian radar switched off, it is likely that there is close correspondence between the TCAA and the TPDF`s air command,`` he said.
The TCAA director general, Margaret Munyagi, said in another interview that airlines were now obliged to give prior notifications of their flights into the country.
The USD40m (over 40bn/-) radar at JNIA was switched off hardly a month ago after a UPS device developed a technical fault.
The component, which is part of the radar system, is used to provide backup power when the commercial current is off.
Munyagi downplayed the technical malfunction, saying it was ``normal and minor,`` and would not affect airport and other operations.
She said TCAA technicians were working on an option to procure from abroad a new UPS at the earliest.
She added that the authority was sorting out quotations from various UPS suppliers.
In 2001, the government bought the radar from the British giant weapons and arms manufacturer-British Aerospace BAE.
The move was strongly opposed by members from both UK House of Commons and the Parliament of Tanzania.
The World Bank, International Monetary Fund and International Civil Aviation Organisation also revealed their opposition to the deal, saying it was not economical.
ICAO made it clear that the technology was old fashioned and expensive, that could cover only half the country at best, and that it would not provide Tanzania with the air traffic control that was needed to develop its tourist industry.
UK\'s serious fraud office (SFO) is currently investigating claims that BAE Systems bribed some Tanzanian officials and businessmen to help push the deal through, while knowing that the facility involved had used ageing technology, not adequate and too expensive.
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