Chamwe Kaira
The country’s planned new surveillance infrastructure for air navigation services, including primary and secondary radar systems, an air traffic management system and wide multilateration, will cost about N$500 million, Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) executive director Toska Sem has revealed.
Sem said civil aviation is a key enabler in the aviation industry, which requires Namibia to meet international standards and requirements. She said Namibia has achieved a safety audit score above 75%, exceeding the 60% benchmark set by the African Union.
Sem spoke during the third edition of Aviation Week Africa held in Windhoek last week, where high-level discussions focused on advancing the continent’s aviation sector.
She said civil aviation overlaps with national security, which means most funding for such projects comes from government, with no involvement from private partners. She said the government is still working to balance competing social priorities while pursuing public-private partnership frameworks and engaging development and financing partners to support aviation infrastructure.
Budget documents for 2026/2027 show the government has committed capital to modernising air navigation systems.
The Ministry of Works and Transport said the current radar and air traffic management infrastructure, installed in 2010, has reached the end of its 15-year lifecycle and must be replaced.
The upgraded systems are expected to allow Namibia to take control of more airspace, including oceanic regions and areas south of Keetmanshoop that are currently managed by South Africa.
A total of N$252 million has been allocated for the 2025/2026 financial year, with N$652 million set aside over the medium term.
A consulting firm has been appointed to carry out a technical feasibility study and prepare procurement documents.
The Ministry of Works and Transport has also allocated more than N$100 million to its Air Transport Administration Programme for 2026/2027 to improve aviation safety, upgrade systems and strengthen oversight.
The programme includes aircraft accident and incident investigations and civil aviation air navigation services. The Civil Aviation Air Navigation Services sub-programme received N$86.29 million, which the NCAA will use to safeguard Namibia’s airspace and support efficient navigation services.
An operational budget of N$47 million has been allocated to the NCAA for 2026/2027. The authority is expected to maintain safety and security standards within these resources.
The ministry has requested parliamentary approval for a total budget of N$2.07 billion for 2026/2027 to support transport infrastructure, safety systems and regulatory functions.
