Supporting U.S. Air Traffic Control Modernization
Today's National Airspace System
The United States has a proud legacy of pioneering manned flight, helping to connect people and places around the world. Today, that leadership faces increasing challenges driven by an outdated infrastructure that is straining the nation’s airspace system.
To remain at the forefront of global aviation, the U.S. must accelerate the modernization of its Air Traffic Control (ATC) system. Legacy technologies were never designed to handle the volume, diversity, and speed of today’s air traffic, nor meet the demands of the rapid growth that’s expected with the rise of commercial spaceflight, drones and advanced air mobility.
The evaluation and selection of solutions to support ATC modernization – prioritizing technologies that are proven, interoperable, and ready for deployment today – will reduce the time from contract award to in-service usage of the systems by many years.
Thales: A Trusted Partner for Air Traffic Control Modernization
For over 100 years, Thales has been trusted to protect the critical infrastructure of our customers and partners across the U.S., including the Department of Defense (DoD) / Department of War, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This includes a more than 80-year legacy of advancing the safety and efficiency of U.S. airspace as a leader in ATC technology and partner to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
To provide local, hands-on support, our industrial footprint includes 40 locations across 20 states, with a radar integration and test facility in Kansas and nine manufacturing sites across California, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
Thales stands at-the-ready to leverage our extensive global expertise in modernizing airspace systems worldwide to support the FAA’s bold ATC modernization vision – delivering solutions that improve system performance, resilience, and long-term sustainability now and into the future.
Thales proven solutions:
- Are already developed, in production, and deployed globally
- Reflect our ongoing R&D investments, which result in market-leading products, new features and advanced technology
- Are tested in more environments and by more users than any other – resulting in more robust and resilient systems
- Interface with FAA legacy systems and all planned infrastructures on the horizon.
- Are supported by local experts that understand the complexity of the National Airspace System and the high cyber and physical security standards it requires.
Thales TopSky – ATC
TopSky – ATC is a modular, field-proven air traffic control automation solution that supports all flight domains – including en route, approach (terminal), tower, and oceanic operations – for both civil and military environments. TopSky is deployed in more than 85 countries and covers more than 40% of the global airspace, making it one of the most widely adopted air traffic control systems worldwide.
- Is designed “by controllers for controllers,” delivering intuitive, real-time flight data, integrated conflict detection and resolution tools, optimized sequencing, and a common controller interface
- Offers high adaptability to controller preferences and interoperability with legacy, emerging, and adjacent ATC systems
- Features a diversified, robust architecture with a fail-safe, reliable design that ensures that the highest contingency operations are supported
- Seamlessly integrates third-party applications to eliminate vendor lock-in, ensuring the platform is future-proof
- Supports the airspace operations of today and tomorrow by adapting to integrate new airspace users and concepts, including Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) platforms, and commercial space operations.
TopSky – ATC is the most advanced, resilient solution ready to support the FAA today. In addition to the platform’s technical and operational benefits, TopSky – ATC significantly lowers the total cost of ownership, ensures high service continuity, and offers long-term support and upgrade paths — allowing the system to evolve as new technologies and capabilities become available.
Primary and Secondary ATC Surveillance Radars
Thales primary and secondary ATC surveillance radars are installed across more than 100 countries around the world. These systems employ advanced high-resolution signal processing, and innovative data processing to enable accurate and reliable aircraft surveillance.
Leading civil and military air navigation service providers worldwide rely on our radars to deliver precise, real-time aircraft detection and tracking that support increased situational awareness and operational efficiency. Continuous innovation ensures that these radar systems remain at the forefront of surveillance capabilities and progress alongside the changing demands of global aviation.
Navigation Aids
Building on years of experience successfully providing 10,000 systems in 170 countries, Thales offers a complete portfolio of high performance and reliable navigation aids. Our high performance, digital, low consumption and low maintenance systems offer our civil and military customers proven, trusted technology during all airport approach and landing phases of flight.
In the United States, 99% of commercial airports are equipped with Thales navigation aids.
Building Tomorrow’s Air Traffic Systems Today
With a legacy of supplying thousands of systems that underpin today’s U.S. ATC infrastructure, and air traffic controls systems trusted by air traffic controllers around the world, Thales is uniquely positioned and fully prepared to support the FAA as a trusted partner for its modernization efforts. Thales has the technology to execute now… and America’s aviation moment is now.