FAA Still Billions Short of Funding Needed for ATC Data Automation

Thales becomes latest company to seek contract for common automation platform, but how will the agency fund it?

Jack Daleo

Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 04:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The FAA seeks a common automation platform (CAP) to unify terminal and en route air traffic control (ATC) data as part of a massive modernization effort. [Credit: Thales]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA's Common Automation Platform (CAP), designed to integrate and modernize air traffic control systems (ERAM and STARS) for improved efficiency and reduced controller workload, is currently facing a critical lack of funding.
Thales has introduced TopSky-America, a cloud-based, AI-powered platform specifically tailored for the U.S. National Airspace System, as its proposed solution for the CAP contract.
Thales is competing with other major companies like Collins Aerospace and Leidos for the CAP contract, while the project, part of a larger ATC modernization effort, requires significant additional Congressional funding (estimated at $10 billion for CAP alone) to move forward.

See a mistake? Contact us.

As competition for the FAA’s common automation platform (CAP) contract heats up, the agency still lacks the funds required to develop the technology, which is envisioned to combine its En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) and Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) platforms.

Thales becomes the latest company to pitch a CAP solution to the FAA. On Wednesday, it announced TopSky-America, a cloud-based, AI-powered platform that it said is tailored for the FAA to enhance information sharing, decision making, and situational awareness for air traffic controllers (ATCs).