Taiwan's Representative to the UK David Lin (林永樂, third left), NCSIST President Gao Chung-hsing (杲中興, third right) and James Long (second right), Easat managing director / photo courtesy of NCSIST

London, July 19 (CNA) Taiwan's National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), the country's primary weapons systems research and development institution, and Easat Radar Systems Limited (Easat) from the United Kingdom (UK) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Wednesday to expand the market and development of civilian air traffic control radars, according to a press release issued by NCSIST.

The MOU was signed at Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Center, Hampshire, the UK. It was witnessed by Taiwan's Representative to the UK David Lin (林永樂) and more than 50 representatives from related industries, the press release said.

The pact will help promote an exchange of radar system technologies to develop new-generation civilian air traffic control radar systems as well as dual-use technology for both the military and civilian sectors, the press release noted.

NCSIST has long been committed to the development of military radar technology and is looking to adapt military radar technology to civilian applications in order to strengthen military-civil integration, the institute pointed out in the press release.

Established in 1987, Easat is a leader in the design, manufacture and integration of high quality civilian air traffic control radar antennas as well as coastal surveillance radar systems, the NCSIST press release said.

NCSIST President Gao Chung-hsing (杲中興) met with James Long, Easat managing director, to discuss the direction of future cooperation, the press release pointed out, adding that Gao also visited the company's headquarters in Manchester and radar manufacturing plants in Helsinki, Finland.

Although Taiwan's civilian air traffic control radar market is largely monopolized by foreign manufacturers, NCSIST has more than 40 years experience developing military radars. The institute expects the cooperative venture to allow it to play a bigger role in both domestic and global markets for civilian air traffic control radars, the press release pointed out.

(By Tai Ya-chen and William Yen)
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