Collins Aerospace has been awarded a $438 million contract by the Federal Aviation Administration to provide next-generation surveillance radar systems for the National Airspace System.
The Cedar Rapids company, a division of RTX, will deliver cooperative and non-cooperative radar systems under the FAA’s Radar System Replacement program. The program is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s effort to modernize air traffic control systems.
The new radars will replace multiple legacy systems with a unified architecture designed to provide air traffic controllers with surveillance information for operations.
“As a trusted supplier to the FAA for more than 70 years, Collins is ready to rapidly deploy next-generation radar systems that replace outdated technology with a single, modern and interoperable solution,” said Nate Boelkins, president of avionics at Collins Aerospace, in a release. “These systems integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure, enhance safety and efficiency for air traffic controllers, reduce long-term costs and ensure the system is prepared for the future of the National Airspace.”
The systems include the Condor Mk3, a cooperative surveillance radar that communicates with aircraft transponders, and the ASR-XM, a non-cooperative radar that detects aircraft using reflected signals. Both systems have been qualified to meet FAA surveillance requirements through prior test-site certification.
More than 550 RTX radar systems currently operate within the national airspace.
Collins Aerospace employs 80,000 people globally, including an estimated 7,000 in the Cedar Rapids area. RTX, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, reported 2024 sales of more than $80 billion.
