FAA sees $100 million cost from tariffs on US air traffic control modernization plan

Congress approved $12.5 billion in funding last year to address the aging air traffic control system and boost controller hiring following decades of complaints about airport congestion and flight delays, as well as a series of technology issues in recent years. The FAA wants at least another $10 billion for phase two.

The cost of telecommunications upgrades has jumped from $4.75 billion to $5.91 billion, a government report said this week. Bedford said outdated telecom copper wires should be replaced by September 2027.

Bedford also said two radar suppliers, RTX's Collins Aerospace and Spain-based Indra Group, were moving radar production to U.S. facilities in Largo, Florida, and Kansas, respectively. He did not say where the production was moving from.