US Awards Major Radar Contracts to Modernize Air Traffic Control System

Post by : Saif

The United States has taken a major step toward improving aviation safety by awarding new radar contracts to RTX Corp and Spain-based Indra Sistemas. The contracts are part of a large plan to modernize the country’s aging air traffic control system, which has faced criticism for many years due to old technology and frequent problems.

The announcement was made by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. He said the contracts are a key part of a $12.5 billion program approved by Congress to overhaul air traffic control across the nation. This effort has become more urgent after several serious safety incidents and growing concerns about airport congestion and system failures.

Most of the radar systems used by the Federal Aviation Administration today were installed in the 1980s. According to officials, many of these systems are now too old to repair, and spare parts are no longer available. Secretary Duffy said that while the US air travel system remains one of the safest in the world, relying on such outdated equipment is no longer acceptable.

Under the plan, the FAA aims to replace up to 612 radars by June 2028. The new radars will be modern, commercially available systems designed to provide more accurate and reliable surveillance. The replacement process is expected to begin this quarter, with priority given to high-traffic airports where safety risks are highest.

FAA leadership has said the agency plans to commit about $6 billion by the end of this year for radar and communication upgrades. However, officials have also warned that the full modernization effort will require an additional $20 billion to complete all planned improvements.

The project goes beyond radar replacement. It includes installing new surface radars at 44 airports, purchasing more than 27,000 radios for air traffic staff, and adding 110 weather stations in Alaska. These upgrades are meant to improve communication, tracking, and weather monitoring, especially in remote and challenging regions.

Public concern about aviation safety has grown after a series of near-misses and a deadly crash last year involving a US Army helicopter and a regional passenger jet, which killed 67 people. These events have increased pressure on the government to act quickly and fix long-standing problems in the air traffic control system.

To manage the massive overhaul, the FAA has selected Peraton, a national security company, as the project manager. The company will help coordinate the complex task of replacing old systems while keeping daily air traffic operations running smoothly.

Overall, the radar contracts awarded to RTX and Indra represent an important move toward safer and more reliable air travel in the United States. By updating technology that has been in place for decades, the government aims to reduce risks, improve efficiency, and restore public confidence in the nation’s air traffic control system.

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