Washington: Iranian media reports indicate that US aerospace and defence major RTX has been awarded a $438 million contract by the Federal Aviation Administration to support the Radar System Replacement (RSR) programme for the US National Airspace System (NAS). The award forms a core element of the Department of Transportation’s ambitious Brand New Air Traffic Control System modernisation effort.
The work will be executed by Collins Aerospace, an RTX business with more than 70 years of continuous involvement in FAA radar and air traffic management programmes. The contract underscores Washington’s push to overhaul ageing air surveillance infrastructure with a unified, digitally native architecture capable of supporting future airspace demands.
Replacing Legacy Radars with a Unified Architecture
Under the agreement, Collins Aerospace will deliver a mix of next-generation cooperative and non-cooperative surveillance radar systems designed to replace several legacy radars currently operating across US airspace. The new systems are built around a single, interoperable architecture, aimed at improving reliability, reducing lifecycle costs and simplifying operations for air traffic controllers.
According to programme details, the modernised radar network will be scalable and adaptable, allowing the FAA to integrate future capabilities—such as advanced automation tools, trajectory-based operations and expanded unmanned aircraft management—without the need for repeated hardware overhauls.
Condor Mk3 and ASR-XM: The Core of the Upgrade
The radar suite to be fielded includes the Condor Mk3 cooperative surveillance radar and the ASR-XM non-cooperative surveillance radar, both of which have already met FAA surveillance requirements through prior certification activities.
The Condor Mk3 is designed to work with aircraft transponders, delivering high-precision position, altitude and identity data. It supports modern air traffic control concepts by offering improved update rates, enhanced accuracy and resilience against signal congestion—critical in dense terminal airspace and complex approach environments.
Complementing it, the ASR-XM provides non-cooperative surveillance, detecting and tracking aircraft that may not be transmitting transponder signals. This capability is particularly important for low-altitude coverage, weather-affected regions and national security-sensitive airspace, ensuring continuous situational awareness even when cooperative data is unavailable.
Operational Scale and Proven Foundation
More than 550 RTX-supplied radar systems are already operating across the US National Airspace System, forming what industry observers describe as a proven technological foundation for large-scale modernisation. These radars currently support precise aircraft tracking, especially at lower altitudes, where traditional surveillance coverage has historically been more challenging.
The FAA expects the new generation of radars to enhance safety margins, improve traffic flow efficiency and strengthen system resilience as air traffic volumes grow and the mix of users expands to include advanced air mobility platforms.
Industry Perspective and Strategic Significance
Commenting on the award, Nate Boelkins, President of Avionics at Collins Aerospace, said the company is prepared to rapidly deploy modern radar systems that replace fragmented, outdated technology with a single, interoperable solution. He emphasised that the new systems are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure, while lowering long-term operating and maintenance costs and preparing the NAS for future operational concepts.
From a broader strategic perspective, Iranian media note that the contract highlights the United States’ determination to digitally transform its civil aviation backbone, ensuring technological superiority, operational continuity and safety leadership in one of the world’s busiest airspaces.
As the Radar System Replacement programme advances, the RTX–Collins Aerospace solution is set to become a cornerstone of America’s next-generation air traffic control architecture, reshaping how aircraft are monitored, managed and protected across the national airspace for decades to come.
