The Federal Aviation Administration has tapped Peraton, a prominent national security contractor owned by Veritas Capital, to spearhead the most ambitious overhaul of America’s air traffic control infrastructure in decades—a massive $12.5 billion modernization effort announced Thursday.
This landmark decision comes on the heels of congressional approval in July for the comprehensive reform package, which aims to address longstanding issues that have plagued American aviation for years: chronic airport congestion, recurring technology failures, and widespread flight delays that cost travelers and airlines billions annually.
The selection of Peraton as project manager marks a pivotal moment for the nation’s aviation system, which relies on technology that aviation experts have long criticized as outdated and insufficient for handling modern air traffic demands. The company will oversee the complex transformation of systems that manage thousands of daily flights across the United States.
Beyond infrastructure upgrades, the ambitious initiative includes provisions to significantly expand air traffic controller hiring—addressing a critical staffing shortage that has contributed to operational challenges at airports nationwide. The controller recruitment and training component represents a crucial element in ensuring the success of the technological improvements.
Industry stakeholders have been calling for comprehensive air traffic control reform for decades, citing the system’s inability to keep pace with growing passenger demand and increasingly complex flight operations. The aging infrastructure has been linked to cascading delays that ripple through the aviation network, affecting millions of passengers and costing the economy substantial losses.
The $12.5 billion investment represents one of the largest federal commitments to aviation infrastructure modernization in recent history. Aviation industry analysts view the project as essential for maintaining America’s position as a global aviation leader while improving safety and efficiency for both commercial and private aircraft operations.
Peraton’s selection positions the Virginia-based contractor at the center of a transformation that could reshape how air traffic moves through American skies. The company’s expertise in complex government technology projects and national security applications factored heavily in the FAA’s decision-making process.
The modernization effort comes as air travel continues recovering from pandemic-related disruptions, with passenger volumes approaching pre-2020 levels. Transportation officials emphasize that upgrading the air traffic control system is critical for accommodating future growth while maintaining the high safety standards that define American aviation.
