SeRo Systems Targets Airport Safety Gap With New Surveillance Tech

FRANKFURT, Germany – May 26, 2026 – German air traffic technology specialist SeRo Systems today announced a significant expansion of its portfolio with the launch of the MLX1090, a new surface surveillance system aimed at enhancing safety and efficiency on airport tarmacs. The new platform is engineered to make advanced ground control technology, previously the domain of large international hubs, accessible and affordable for regional, general aviation, and smaller commercial airports.

The system, designed for integration into Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems (A-SMGCS), promises to provide air traffic controllers with a high-fidelity, real-time view of all aircraft and vehicle movements on the ground, a critical tool in preventing dangerous runway incursions.

Bridging the Safety Gap on the Tarmac

As global air traffic continues to rebound and grow, the complexity of airport ground operations has increased exponentially. This has placed immense pressure on air traffic controllers and airport operators to prevent runway incursions—incidents involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle, or person on the protected area of a surface designated for aircraft landing and take-off. A-SMGCS are the primary technological defense against such events, providing surveillance and control over the entire movement area.

SeRo Systems' MLX1090 enters this critical safety space by integrating two powerful surveillance technologies: multilateration (MLAT) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B). By fusing data from its proven GRX receiver hardware and SecureTrack software, the system creates what the company calls a “unified operational picture.” This allows A-SMGCS to continuously and accurately track the position of every transponder-equipped aircraft and vehicle, providing controllers with the situational awareness needed to maintain safe separation, even in low-visibility conditions.

The system's core function is to deliver precise location data that can trigger real-time safety alerts for potential conflicts, giving controllers a vital head-start to intervene and avert disaster. By providing a clear, unambiguous view of the airfield, the technology helps reduce controller workload and enhances operational resilience.

Democratizing Advanced Surveillance

The market for A-SMGCS is a rapidly expanding, multi-billion-dollar industry, projected to grow at a compound annual rate of nearly 7% over the next decade. It is currently dominated by major aerospace and defense contractors like Saab Group, Thales, and Indra Sistemas, whose comprehensive solutions are deployed at the world's busiest airports. However, the high capital expenditure associated with these top-tier systems has historically created a significant barrier for smaller airports.

SeRo Systems is positioning the MLX1090 to directly address this market gap. By focusing on a scalable and integrated design, the company aims to lower the financial barrier to entry for advanced safety technology. The press release highlights this strategy, quoting CTO Markus Fuchs: "Airports today face mounting pressure to improve surface safety and operational resilience while controlling infrastructure costs... we've engineered a scalable, cost-effective solution that makes advanced surveillance capabilities available to smaller airports."

Key to this cost-effectiveness is the system's architecture. It operates on a dedicated on-premises server, which gives airports full control over their data and security while avoiding the recurring subscription fees and potential dependencies of cloud-based services. This approach offers a more predictable cost model, which is highly attractive to budget-conscious regional and general aviation airport operators who can now upgrade their safety infrastructure without prohibitive investment.

A Foundation of Standards and Security

While affordability is a key selling point, SeRo Systems has also underscored the MLX1090's technical credibility and adherence to rigorous international standards. The platform is developed in accordance with specifications from EUROCAE, the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment, ensuring it meets stringent performance and safety requirements.

Compliance with EUROCAE ED-117A guarantees that the system's MLAT component meets minimum operational performance standards for accuracy, integrity, and availability. This assures airport operators that the surveillance data is reliable enough for critical safety functions. Furthermore, adherence to standards like ED-129B provides guidelines for the intelligent fusion of data from multiple sources—like MLAT and ADS-B—ensuring the combined output is coherent, accurate, and free of contradictions.

This commitment to open standards not only validates the system's quality but also ensures interoperability within the broader Air Traffic Management ecosystem. For an airport, adopting a standards-compliant system simplifies integration and future-proofs its investment. The on-premises server model further reinforces a commitment to security, giving operators complete sovereignty over their critical operational data, a growing concern in an era of increasing cyber threats.

A Strategic Evolution for SeRo Systems

The launch of the MLX1090 marks a natural and strategic evolution for the Frankfurt-based company. Founded in 2014 as a university spin-off, SeRo Systems has built a strong reputation as a leader in monitoring the health and security of air traffic surveillance infrastructure. Its existing portfolio includes advanced sensors and software for airspace surveillance, RF spectrum monitoring, and the detection of GNSS interference like GPS jamming and spoofing.

The new surface surveillance system leverages the company's core competencies, integrating the same GRX receiver hardware and SecureTrack software platform that are already trusted by Air Navigation Service Providers and regulators across Europe and the United States. This move extends SeRo's reach from monitoring the airspace above and around airports directly onto the airport surface itself, offering a more complete surveillance solution.

The product is not just a concept; it is currently undergoing field trials at a regional airport in Germany, demonstrating tangible progress toward market readiness. By applying its deep expertise in surveillance data integrity to the challenge of ground movement, SeRo Systems is not only expanding its business but also contributing to a safer and more efficient global aviation network, proving that top-tier safety should not be a luxury reserved only for the largest players.