2 Contractors Tasked With Replacing 1980s-Era ATC Radar

Collins Aerospace’s RTX and Spanish firm Indra win contracts to replace hundreds of ATC systems by 2028.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, January 06, 2026 at 03:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Collins Aerospace’s cooperative Condor Mk3 surveillance radar is among new systems that will be installed. [Credit: Collins Aerospace]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Department of Transportation and FAA have contracted RTX and Indra to replace up to 612 outdated ground-based aviation radars with modern systems by June 2028.
This radar replacement is a central part of the broader, multi-billion-dollar Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) plan, which also includes upgrading communication systems, infrastructure, and facilities.
Funded by a $12.5 billion congressional allocation, BNATCS aims to modernize an aging air traffic control network implicated in delays and incidents.
Additional funding of $19-20 billion is being sought by the DOT to fully implement BNATCS, including a common automation platform and aircraft upgrades, though this request faces congressional pushback.

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The U.S. Department of Transportation and FAA have picked two companies to replace up to 612 ground-based aviation radars—some of which date back to the 1980s—with “modern, commercially available” alternatives by June 2028.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford on Monday announced that RTX, the parent of longtime agency contractor Collins Aerospace, and Spanish firm Indra won contracts for the Radar System Replacement program. Officials said the work will begin early this year and focus initially on “high-traffic” areas.