DALLAS  — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy and FAA Administrator Bedford have announced the appointment of Peraton as the nation’s first-ever “Prime Integrator” to lead the modernization of America’s air-traffic control system.

The role gives Peraton broad responsibility for coordinating technology upgrades, managing contractors, and streamlining project delivery across the National Airspace System—one of the most complex aviation infrastructures in the world.

Peraton, a major player in U.S. national security and mission-critical technology, serves as one of the country’s leading integrators of complex defense and enterprise IT systems. The company provides advanced, highly specialized solutions designed to protect the United States and its allies across both digital and physical domains.

With operations that span every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and multiple federal agencies, Peraton plays a central role in supporting national defense, aerospace infrastructure, and government programs that underpin everyday life.

Investment Promise

The FAA says the effort will be supported by an initial US$12.5 billion investment, part of a larger modernization push aimed at replacing aging systems that have contributed to outages, inefficiencies, and rising maintenance costs. As Prime Integrator, Peraton will oversee the transition from legacy radar and telecommunications systems to advanced digital infrastructure, integrating new hardware, software, cybersecurity protections, and data-driven tools.

The agency emphasized that the contract is performance-based, designed to reward on-time delivery and penalize delays, with a stated goal of completing the modernization far faster than earlier projections. FAA officials noted that previous estimates placed the timeline at roughly ten years, but the new model aims to compress that significantly by consolidating oversight under a single systems integrator.

Secretary Duffy highlighted the need for a more resilient, reliable, and future-ready air-traffic system, while Administrator Bedford said the reform is critical to meeting surging demand, supporting emerging aviation technologies, and ensuring safety across the national airspace.

The FAA characterized the announcement as a foundational step in modernizing U.S. aviation infrastructure and preparing the system for the next generation of air travel.

Factsheet

• 5,170 new high speed network connections on fiber, satellite, and wireless
• 27,625 new radios
• 462 new digital voice switches
• 612 state of the art radars
• 44 airports will have new replacement surface radars
• 200 airports will have Surface Awareness Initiative surveillance technology
• 89 airports will have new Terminal Flight Data Manager tools
• 435 air traffic control towers will have new Enterprise Information Display Systems
• 113 air traffic control towers will have new Tower Simulation Systems
• 1 new consolidated Air Route Traffic Control Center (first new one since the 1960s)
• 110 additional weather stations in Alaska
• 64 more weather camera sites in Alaska
• 1 new consolidated Terminal Radar Approach Control