THE ITALIAN air force is equipping some squadrons with the airborne search-and-rescue system (ASARS) made by Tadiran in Israel. Deliveries of the pilot-location system begin soon under the terms of the $5 million contract. The French air force has already purchased the hand-held component of the system for its operations in Bosnia.

The Israeli company is also developing a new ASARS model with an integrated global-positioning system which will transmit the location of any downed pilots to rescue aircraft.

The system provides range and bearing information for the non-visual, rapid and accurate location of radio transponders.

Source: Flight International