TL;DR
The FAA has signed contracts with RTX (via Collins Aerospace) and Spain's Indra to supply modern surveillance radars as part of a long-delayed overhaul of U.S. air traffic control, the Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS). The agencies expect up to 612 radar sites to be replaced by June 2028, with initial installations beginning this quarter.
What happened
The Federal Aviation Administration announced contracts with RTX Corporation and Indra Group to provide modern radar systems for a multiyear effort to replace aging U.S. air traffic control infrastructure. RTX said its Collins Aerospace unit received $438 million to support the Radar System Replacement program; Indra reported a $342 million award to manufacture next-generation surveillance radars. These procurements follow the FAA's selection of Peraton as prime integrator for the Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS). The FAA intends to install commercially available radar sets at as many as 612 locations by June 2028, starting installations this quarter and prioritizing high-traffic areas on a rolling schedule. The program also aims to reduce the 14 different radar configurations currently in the National Airspace System to a single, interoperable solution. The move responds to assessments that much of the existing radar network has exceeded its intended service life and is increasingly costly and difficult to support.
Why it matters
- Modernizing surveillance radars is a core step toward replacing decades-old air traffic control infrastructure that has become costly to maintain.
- Consolidating multiple radar configurations should simplify maintenance, spare-parts logistics and interoperability across the National Airspace System.
- Faster radar deployment supports broader BNATCS goals and could improve resilience and capacity in high-traffic regions.
- Large contracts with major defense and aerospace firms signal acceleration of a program that previously faced long delays and uncertain timelines.
Key facts
- Contracts awarded to RTX (Collins Aerospace) and Indra Group for radar replacements.
- Collins Aerospace contract value reported at $438 million; Indra's award reported at $342 million.
- FAA plans replacements for up to 612 radar sites by June 2028, with first installations starting this quarter.
- Peraton was selected in December as the prime integrator for the Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS).
- The FAA wants to consolidate 14 different radar configurations in the current National Airspace System.
- Funding: $12.5 billion for BNATCS was approved in last year's budget bill; the program is expected to need about $20 billion more to finish.
- Much of the existing air traffic control infrastructure dates to the 1980s or earlier; previous reporting highlighted use of obsolete media such as floppy disks.
- RTX has an established portfolio of military radars, including work on the AN/SPY-6 family used by the U.S. Navy.
What to watch next
- Rollout progress against the FAA's target of completing up to 612 site replacements by June 2028.
- How consolidation from 14 configurations to a single, interoperable radar solution is implemented across regions.
- not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Surveillance radar: A radar system used to detect and track aircraft positions in order to support air traffic control and situational awareness.
- National Airspace System (NAS): The network of U.S. air navigation facilities, equipment, services, procedures and manpower that ensures safe flight operations.
- Prime integrator: A contractor responsible for coordinating design, procurement and integration of components and systems on behalf of a program owner.
- Interoperability: The ability of different systems, devices or organizations to work together and exchange information effectively.
Reader FAQ
Who won the radar contracts announced by the FAA?
RTX (Collins Aerospace) and Indra Group were awarded contracts to supply radar systems.
How many radar sites does the FAA expect to replace and by when?
The FAA expects to replace radars at up to 612 sites by June 2028.
How much funding has been allocated to the BNATCS program so far?
The budget bill approved $12.5 billion for BNATCS; an additional roughly $20 billion is expected to complete the program, according to the source.
Will the program be completed before 2030?
not confirmed in the source
PUBLIC SECTOR 1 FAA signs radar deals to drag US air traffic control out of the 1980s RTX and Indra land contracts as long-delayed overhaul moves ahead Dan Robinson Wed 7 Jan 2026…
Sources
- FAA signs radar deals to drag US air traffic control out of the 1980s
- Trump's Transportation Secretary Duffy & …
- FAA signs radar deals to modernize US air traffic control
- RTX awarded FAA contract to deploy next-generation …
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