The federal government has announced a significant upgrade to the U.S. air traffic control system with the selection of two companies to replace 612 radar systems that have been in use since the 1980s.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) unveiled plans on Monday to have contractors RTX and Spanish firm Indra replace the outdated radar systems by summer 2028. This overhaul is part of a broader initiative aimed at modernizing the nation’s air traffic infrastructure.
“Our radar network is outdated and long overdue for replacement. Many of the units have exceeded their intended service life, making them increasingly expensive to maintain and difficult to support,” stated FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.
The FAA has been channeling a significant portion of its $3 billion equipment budget into merely maintaining the existing systems, which still rely on floppy discs in some instances. The age of the equipment has necessitated searching for spare parts online, underscoring its obsolescence.
Last year, technical failures at Newark Liberty International Airport's air traffic control center caused significant disruptiveness, resulting in thousands of flight cancellations and delays. This pattern showcased the urgent need for an upgraded radar system.
Despite previous investments, the FAA did not disclose the projected costs associated with the new radar systems, which will ultimately simplify maintenance and ensure enhanced safety across the airspace.
Duffy noted that while more than $6 billion of the allocated $12.5 billion budget from Congress has been spent, additional funding of at least $20 billion will be necessary for the complete execution of the project. The agency has already modernized over one-third of the older copper wiring infrastructure with contemporary fiber optic connections and enlisted national security contractor Peraton to oversee project implementation.
