US Government Commits to Overhaul Aging Air Traffic Control Radar Systems

Thu Jan 08 2026 11:01:36 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The federal government has selected RTX and Indra for a multibillion-dollar project to replace outdated radar systems, aiming for completion by 2028.

In a significant move to enhance aviation safety, the US federal government has awarded contracts to RTX and Spanish firm Indra to replace 612 aging radar systems that date back to the 1980s. This overhaul is part of a larger effort to modernize the nation's air traffic control infrastructure, with an ambitious target for completion by the end of 2028. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford emphasized the urgency of updating the radar network, which has faced technical failures, increasing maintenance costs, and has been prone to outages. The project, backed by substantial funding, aims to streamline operations and improve flight safety across the country.

The federal government has announced significant changes to improve air travel safety. Two companies, RTX and Spanish firm Indra, have been selected to replace 612 radar systems nationwide, which have been in use since the 1980s. This transition is part of a multibillion-dollar overhaul of the country’s air traffic control system.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials disclosed that these new systems are expected to be operational by the summer of 2028, aiming for an overhaul completion closer to the end of President Donald Trump’s current term in office.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford highlighted the urgent need for these updates, stating, “Our radar network is outdated and long overdue for replacement.” The current system has been plagued by technical issues and failures. Recent incidents, such as outages affecting Newark Liberty International Airport, have led to significant flight cancellations and delays.

In recent years, the FAA has struggled with maintaining the existing radar systems, leading to excessive spending on repairs of aging technologies that still rely on floppy disks. Some systems do not have existing manufacturers, compelling the agency to resort to purchasing spare parts via platforms like eBay.

The FAA has allocated over $6 billion of the $12.5 billion budget approved by Congress for this modernization initiative. However, an additional $20 billion is projected to be necessary to complete the overhaul and replace the aging radar systems with newer technologies.

As part of this modernization effort, efforts to replace outdated copper wiring with modern fiber optic connections have already commenced. A contractor, Peraton, has been hired to manage the operations and ensure the timely implementation of the new systems.