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The U.S. Department of Transportation and FAA have contracted RTX and Indra to replace up to 612 outdated ground-based aviation radars with modern systems by June 2028.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 key component of the broader "Brand New Air Traffic Control System" (BNATCS) plan, which aims to modernize the nation's air traffic control infrastructure.
BNATCS involves a comprehensive upgrade, including replacing copper wiring with fiber optics, installing new radios and digital voice switches, and constructing new facilities.
The modernization effort, initially funded with $12.5 billion from Congress, addresses an aging network with some radars dating back to the 1970s, aiming to enhance safety, improve efficiency, and reduce maintenance costs.

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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.