FAA taps L3Harris for airspace surveillance upgrade to improve aircraft tracking and safety

MELBOURNE, Fla., July 1, 2026 — L3Harris Technologies has received a Federal Aviation Administration contract to upgrade and continue to operate the nation’s aircraft tracking network through 2045, a modernization intended to help air traffic controllers safely manage evolving airspace demands for decades.

The company will upgrade more than 700 ground stations, which provide real-time, satellite-based flight positioning data to air traffic controllers nationwide. L3Harris will deploy advanced security to protect critical airspace data and expand surveillance capabilities to track emerging entrants in the National Airspace System.

“L3Harris is propelling the FAA’s modernization vision forward by delivering an advanced surveillance infrastructure that will define the future of our airspace system and ensure increased safety for all air travelers,” said Kathy Crandall, President, Mission Networks, Space & Mission Systems, L3Harris. “By expanding network capacity, we’re ensuring the United States remains the global leader in air traffic management.”

L3Harris operates the largest terrestrial air traffic surveillance network in the world, integrating thousands of data sources and delivering information to hundreds of FAA and government facilities through a 24/7 network operations center. The work builds on nearly two decades of highly reliable operations and innovations, extending L3Harris’ role in the FAA’s surveillance system.