Indra Group wins contract to replace radars for the United States Federal Aviation Administration
Indra Group, a world leader in air traffic management and mobility technology, has announced that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded it a £300 million contract to manufacture next-generation air traffic surveillance radars as part of the FAA's Radar System Replacement programme. The systems will be produced at Indra Group's new manufacturing facility in the United States, in the Kansas City area.
The contract is part of a broader FAA initiative known as the Brand-New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) to modernise the National Airspace System (NAS), replacing the old surveillance infrastructure with modern, resilient and cyber-secure technology to improve safety, reliability and operational performance across the country.
Indra's industrial proposal includes a phased manufacturing approach aligned with the FAA's implementation schedules, which will be carried out at the company's factories in the Kansas City area (USA) and will be supported by the entire Indra Group globally, thus significantly expanding Indra's manufacturing capabilities.
‘Modernising the US National Airspace System focuses, above all, on safety, reliability and public confidence,’ said Ángel Escribano, Executive Chairman of the Indra Group. ‘The FAA's BNATCS and Radar System Replacement programmes represent a unique opportunity to renew critical infrastructure that millions of Americans depend on every day. Indra is proud to contribute to this effort with its field-proven technology, strong track record of execution and firm commitment to manufacturing and growth in the United States.’
Indra Group has announced a $50 million investment in facilities in the Kansas City area, which will drive the creation of more than 200 skilled jobs in the United States in areas such as engineering, manufacturing, integration, deployment and systems support. The investment strengthens the domestic industrial base in the United States, while ensuring the long-term support, maintenance and scalability of this critical air traffic infrastructure.
‘Our investment in Kansas, the creation of more than 200 high-quality US jobs and the transfer of advanced radar technology to the United States reflect our long-term commitment to the United States and the FAA as a leading global provider of air navigation services,’ said José Vicente de los Mozos, CEO of Indra Group. ‘We are fully aligned with the FAA, the US Department of Transportation, Congress and the Administration to achieve a safer, more resilient and future-ready National Airspace System, on time and accountable to the US taxpayer.’
Indra's radar systems are based on state-of-the-art surveillance technology, trusted by leading air navigation service providers in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, New Zealand and many others worldwide. They are designed to integrate seamlessly with the FAA's existing automation platforms, while meeting future airspace needs such as increased traffic volume, advanced air mobility operations and greater system redundancy.
Technology transfer is a fundamental pillar of the Indra Group's business model in the United States. For the radar system replacement, Indra will replicate the approach it has already successfully implemented with its NEXCOM v3 air-to-ground communications radios, transferring advanced technology, manufacturing processes and product expertise to the United States to support long-term production and maintenance in the country.