The DOT and FAA will develop a national Air Traffic Organization (ATO) system known as the BNATCS over the next decade, with Peraton serving as the prime contractor on the project. 

As indicated in the BNATCS Fact Sheet, BNATCS will eventually replace the aged radar systems, software, and hardware telecommunications networks that make up the NAS infrastructure within the ten-year timeframe. 

The Federal Government has provided an investment of approximately $12.5 billion from President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” and additional funding as the program continues to develop.

Peraton will support an array of technology and infrastructure enhancements through this contract by acting as the single integration entity for multiple ATO vendors and FAA programs. Among the initial priorities identified in the BNATCS Overview are transitioning from copper wire-based communications infrastructure to modern fiber cable, creating new advanced digital command centers, and replacing old legacy radar and voice systems with new modern platforms that combine reliability and reduced outages. 

The basis of this new contract is primarily performance-based, with both performance incentives for timely and on-budget delivery, along with penalties for delays and failing to meet expected performance levels. The new approach of the DOT reflects increased accountability for completion and performance within the new contracting environment.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy stated that the modernization project is needed due to the increased use of outdated equipment, which has caused air traffic controllers to slow traffic to maintain a safe operation and subsequently delayed and disrupted operations. 

Peraton was selected through a competitive process to assume the integrator role as part of this initiative because of its systems integration expertise and plan to expedite the implementation of the foundational competencies of BNATCS. 

According to analysts, BNATCS will not only improve operations today but will also be able to meet future demands resulting from increased volumes of commercial traffic, the use of drones, and the implementation of Advanced Air Mobility Services.

The BNATCS initiative builds on a much larger federal initiative to modernize the aviation system. The U.S. Department of Transportation has provided more than $1 billion in grants for runway, tower, and terminal enhancements across the country in the last several years. 

Separately, the FAA has allocated approximately $1 billion to modernize airport infrastructure. Collectively, these investments and the BNATCS program represent a major departure from upgrading and ameliorating legacy systems and moving towards a comprehensive reconstruction of the foundational technologies that are responsible for managing the airspace of the United States.