FAA Contracts L3Harris to Modernize ADS-B Ground Network Through 2045

L3Harris Technologies announced a significant contract award from the Federal Aviation Administration to modernize and operate the nation’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) ground infrastructure through 2045. This upgrade encompasses over 700 ADS-B ground stations scattered across the United States, which are critical for receiving position reports broadcasted by compliant aircraft and relaying that data to air traffic control facilities. The initiative aims to ensure continued surveillance coverage and advance the FAA’s airspace modernization efforts well into the mid-21st century.

ADS-B is a cornerstone technology enabling modern air traffic management, as it allows aircraft to broadcast precise location data derived from GPS to ground stations and other aircraft. The L3Harris contract involves enhancing the existing network’s capacity and security infrastructure to accommodate evolving needs, including new entrants into the national airspace system such as unmanned aircraft and other emerging technologies. These upgrades will foster improved situational awareness for controllers and contribute to increased safety and efficiency in the increasingly congested US skies.

Currently, L3Harris operates a complex surveillance network that interfaces with thousands of data sources nationwide and supports hundreds of FAA and government facilities through a centralized 24-hour network operations center. The extension of their role through 2045 underscores continuity and the importance of retaining in-house expertise for managing this mission-critical system. The company’s president of Mission Networks, Space & Mission Systems, Kathy Crandall, emphasized the contract as a step toward fulfilling the FAA’s modernization vision and maintaining US leadership in air traffic management globally.

The modernization plan also involves integrating enhanced security measures for airspace data to guard against cyber threats and ensure the integrity of surveillance information. This aspect is increasingly vital as aviation infrastructure faces heightened risks from potential cyberattack vectors. The system upgrades will not only focus on hardware improvements but will also incorporate software enhancements and network architecture advancements to support robust and secure data transmission throughout the surveillance ecosystem.

L3Harris did not disclose the financial terms of the contract but the scale of upgrading over 700 ground stations and managing a nationwide surveillance network suggests a multi-year, substantial investment. The FAA’s decision reflects ongoing priorities to upgrade aging radar and surveillance assets to digital systems that improve accuracy, responsiveness, and system resilience. This commitment aligns with past aviation infrastructure modernization efforts designed to adapt to expanding air traffic volumes and new types of aerial vehicles.

The scope of this contract further integrates into broader airspace modernization programs like the NextGen initiative, which aims to transform ground-based radar tracking to satellite-based and digital positioning systems. Maintaining and upgrading ADS-B ground infrastructure is pivotal for realizing benefits such as reduced separation minima, enhanced route efficiency, and the eventual seamless integration of advanced air mobility platforms. L3Harris’s role in operating the network positions it at the heart of these transformative aviation advancements.

This extensive modernization contract cements the FAA’s trusted partnership with L3Harris, a company experienced in delivering large-scale aviation and defense communications solutions. The improvements to ground surveillance systems will have direct effects on air traffic controller capabilities and indirectly benefit the flying public by supporting safer, more efficient flights. The continuation of 24/7 network operations ensures real-time data integrity which is essential under rising air traffic demand and complexities.

Given the operational window through 2045, these upgrades will support evolving FAA requirements and accommodate technological developments expected over the next two decades. As aircraft adopt newer avionics and as unmanned vehicles increase in number, the network’s enhanced capacity and security must evolve accordingly. The contract signals forward-looking infrastructure stewardship essential for sustaining the US air traffic system’s modernization trajectory and resilience against emerging challenges.