Rohde & Schwarz USA has been awarded a US$4.9bn contract by the Federal Aviation Administration to modernize voice communication systems across US air traffic control infrastructure.
The contract covers the replacement of legacy analog systems with the company’s Certium Voice Communication System (VCS) at airports and air traffic control facilities nationwide. Manufacturing will take place at new and expanded facilities in Frederick, Maryland, and Coppell, Texas.
The deployment forms part of the FAA’s Brand-New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) initiative, which aims to modernize communications infrastructure while maintaining safety and reliability across the US National Airspace System.
Rohde & Schwarz USA is rolling out its voice-over-IP Certium VCS, compliant with the ED-137 standard. The first system under the contract went live in September 2025 at Allegheny County Airport near Pittsburgh, marking the first deployment of a modern VoIP VCS in the national airspace system under the program.
Additional installations have been completed at sites including Beaumont, Texas; Wilmington, Delaware; Lewiston, Idaho; and Bellingham, Washington.
Frank Dunn, president and CEO of Rohde & Schwarz USA, said, “Rohde & Schwarz USA is proud to work with the FAA on this important project to modernize the air traffic control communication systems in the US airspace.”
He added that the program will support domestic capability in ATC communications and expand the company’s US workforce. “With this program we are creating over 200 additional highly skilled jobs, elevating Rohde & Schwarz USA’s total workforce to over 1,000 members.”
The company has invested US$40m in its new Frederick facility, which opened in early 2026 and will support design, development and manufacturing of the Certium system in the US. Expansion of the Coppell site is intended to increase production capacity and system integration capabilities.
Rohde & Schwarz USA said the program will provide long-term domestic manufacturing and support for the FAA’s modernization efforts.
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