Washington DC [US], December 5 (ANI): US Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford on Thursday announced Peraton will be the Prime Integrator to lead a major aviation infrastructure modernization project, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.
Working with USDOT and the FAA, Peraton will oversee rollout of a new air traffic control system intended to enhance safety and efficiency. The project received a $12.5 billion down payment from President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, the release said.
“We are thrilled to be working with Peraton because they share President Trump’s drive to modernize our skies safely at record speed,” said Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “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.”
“The One Big Beautiful Bill gave us a strong $12.5 billion down payment to start this modernization effort,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “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 FAA said Peraton’s expertise integrating complex technology platforms and its experience with federal agencies position the company to execute an ambitious timeline. The Prime Integrator contract is structured to reward good performance and efficient use of taxpayer funds, while penalizing unnecessary delays or poor performance.
The FAA said the new system will reduce outages, improve efficiency, reinforce safety, and support future growth of the national airspace. While some critics, including Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg, have said modernization could take more than ten years, the Trump Administration aims to complete the project in three.
Since taking office, the FAA said the administration has converted one-third of copper infrastructure to modern fiber, satellite and wireless; deployed 148 radios nationwide; installed the first next-generation voice switch at Allegheny Tower; deployed surface awareness systems to 44 towers; and rolled out electronic flight strips to 13 towers.
To meet the goal of implementing a new system by the end of 2028, DOT and the FAA used an innovative procurement approach to expedite selection of an integrator. The FAA noted current equipment is aging; new, more reliable systems are expected to reduce equipment-related delays across the National Airspace System.
The Prime Integrator will provide centralized leadership to coordinate change, keep modernization on track, and support deployment of new capabilities across the NAS. The project includes replacing core infrastructure such as telecommunications networks, radar, software and hardware.
Peraton will begin work immediately, partnering with the FAA on initial priorities including converting remaining copper infrastructure to fiber and establishing a new digital command center. The FAA added it will continue other initiatives, including buying new radar systems and developing next-generation facilities as outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill. (ANI)
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