In early January 2026, new navigation and surveillance systems were commissioned at Apatity Airport (Khibiny) and at the Lipetsk airfield to support a range of air traffic management (ATM) functions, according to Russia’s State Air Traffic Management Corporation (ATM Corporation).
At Apatity, the Northwest Air Navigation Branch of the ATM Corporation has commissioned the RLC-10RA aerodrome surveillance radar, designed to operate as a dedicated airport surface and terminal area radar. The system provides radar monitoring of air traffic within the aerodrome control zone, supports aircraft tracking during takeoff, approach, landing, and taxiing, and enhances controller situational awareness under adverse weather conditions and reduced visibility.
The aerodrome’s radio-navigation infrastructure has also been expanded with the commissioning of a DVOR/DME system, providing omnidirectional navigation guidance and distance measurement. The combined use of the aerodrome radar and DVOR/DME creates an integrated surveillance and navigation environment in which ground-based radar data are complemented by navigation information transmitted directly to the aircraft. This configuration improves approach path accuracy and reduces flight crew reliance on visual cues, which is particularly important given the challenging climatic conditions of the Kola Peninsula.
Installation work was carried out in Arctic marshland terrain, requiring specialized engineering solutions for antenna placement, foundation design, and power supply systems.
The radio-technical modernization of Apatity Airport is primarily aimed at supporting regional air services and directly contributes to the reliability of air connectivity for population centers in central and southern Murmansk Region, including Apatity, Kirovsk, Monchegorsk, and Kandalaksha.
In Lipetsk, within the area of responsibility of the Voronezh Air Traffic Control Center operated by the State ATM Corporation’s Air Traffic Management Centers Branch, a standalone non-directional beacon (NDB) station has been commissioned. Unlike radar-based systems, the NDB belongs to short-range, non-directional radio navigation aids and is used to guide aircraft to the vicinity of the airfield, support pre-landing maneuvers, and maintain alignment with the runway centerline.
The NDB installation incorporates domestically produced equipment manufactured by Azimut Production Corporation, including RMM-200 and RMP-200 radio beacons. The station supports aircraft equipped with compatible onboard receivers and provides navigation assistance during approaches in low-visibility conditions, as well as during training and ferry flights.
The systems commissioned at Apatity and Lipetsk address fundamentally different operational tasks. The aerodrome radar and DVOR/DME at Apatity form a comprehensive toolset for both air traffic control and onboard navigation within the terminal area, while the NDB in Lipetsk performs a localized aircraft guidance function. Taken together, these projects illustrate a phased modernization of regional ATM infrastructure, tailored to the specific traffic patterns and operating conditions of individual airfields.
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