Photo: Shutterstock The U.S. government has opened a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Frederick, Maryland, dedicated to producing equipment for America's air traffic control modernization program.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford joined the opening ceremony for the new 87,000-square-foot facility operated by Rohde & Schwarz USA.
The $40 million factory will manufacture digital Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, voice switches. The equipment is a critical component of the Federal Aviation Administration's new air traffic control system, allowing controllers to communicate with pilots and other air traffic control facilities.
The facility is expected to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity while supporting the FAA's plan to modernize the country's aging air traffic control infrastructure.
“This equipment is a critical part of our landmark air traffic control modernization effort,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said. He added that the new facility supports the agency's goal of completing the new system by the end of 2028 while creating high-quality U.S. jobs.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the project reflects the administration's focus on domestic manufacturing and American technology as the country's aviation infrastructure undergoes a major modernization.
The new factory comes as the FAA continues a nationwide effort to replace and upgrade aging air traffic control technology.
According to the agency, the modernization program has received a $12.5 billion funding commitment. Over the past year, the FAA says it has replaced 63% of copper wiring at air traffic control facilities with high-speed fiber, 5G wireless or low-Earth-orbit satellite capabilities.
The agency has also converted 388 radio sites and installed Surface Awareness Initiative technology at 96 airport towers.
Other upgrades include electronic flight strips at 21 towers, 176 IP voice switches and nine new tower simulation systems designed to help train air traffic controllers. Surface Movement Radars have also been installed at five airports.
The FAA recently completed the first phase of its nationwide deployment of the CERTIUM Voice Communication System, installing the 140th system at Rapid City Regional Airport's control tower in South Dakota.
According to the FAA, the completion of Wave 1 occurred ahead of schedule. The agency's current target is to complete the new national air traffic control system by the end of 2028.