New U.S. Air Traffic Control System is in the Works, Led by Peraton 

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford announced last week (Dec. 4) that the FAA and Department of Transportation (DOT) have selected domestic cybersecurity, technology and defense company Peraton as the Prime Integrator for the project to replace the United States’ aging air traffic control system; the work, which is expected to be delivered on an accelerated three-year timeline, is supported by a $12.5 billion down payment from President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, with another $20 billion expected to be needed to finish the job. 

Photo of an air traffic control tower courtesy of Peraton.

Officials said the new system will improve safety, cut delays, and support the future of air travel. The FAA says equipment failures today cause far more delays than in the past, and a modern system is needed to keep flights moving.

"Working together, we are going to build on the incredible progress we’ve already made and deliver a state-of-the-art air traffic control system that the American traveling public – and our hard-working air traffic controllers – deserve," said Secretary Duffy.

"We are taking bold action to ensure our air traffic system is the envy of the world," Administrator Bedford said. "The One Big Beautiful Bill gave us a strong $12.5 billion down payment to start this modernization effort. But to finish the job and deliver the safer, more efficient system travelers deserve we’re going to need another $20 billion. This is a long-term investment in the future of air travel, and we’re committed to getting it right."

The government’s contract with Peraton includes incentives for strong performance and penalties for delays or poor results.

What the ATC Modernization Project Includes

The modernization effort, known as the Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS), will replace key parts of today’s infrastructure, including radar, radios, software, hardware, and nationwide telecommunications networks. Major upgrades planned include:

• More than 5,000 high-speed network connections
• 27,625 new radios and 462 digital voice switches
• 612 new radars, plus replacement surface radars at 44 airports
• New surveillance and data tools at hundreds of towers and airports
• A new consolidated Air Route Traffic Control Center, the first since the 1960s
• Major weather system upgrades in Alaska

The project covers five main areas: communications, surveillance, automation, facilities, and aviation needs in Alaska.

Image courtesy of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Instagram account, @faa.

Why It Is Needed

The FAA says delay minutes linked to equipment issues in 2025 are about 300 percent higher than the average from 2010 through 2024. Modern systems, they say, will help reduce these disruptions across the National Airspace System.

What Peraton Will Do

As the Prime Integrator, Peraton will manage and coordinate all parts of the modernization effort, helping the FAA deploy new technologies without disrupting daily operations. The FAA says Peraton was chosen after a competitive process that evaluated experience, cost, and track record.
An Executive Steering Committee at DOT and FAA will assess the company’s performance based on schedule, quality, cost control, and communication with stakeholders.

Progress So Far and Next Steps

Since taking office, upgrades include converting one-third of the old copper infrastructure to modern fiber, satellite, and wireless systems, deploying 148 radios nationwide, installing the first next-generation voice switch at Allegheny Tower, and expanding surface awareness and electronic flight strip tools to towers around the country.

Peraton will begin work immediately, helping expand fiber connections and setting up a new digital command center. Other upgrades, including new radar systems and next-generation facilities, will move forward as outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill.

According to the FAA, all of these efforts aim at one goal: delivering a safer, more reliable, and more efficient air traffic control system by the end of 2028.