Newark Airport Gets New Radar, but DOT Seeks $10B for Additional Upgrades

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford share latest progress on the multibillion-dollar effort.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 02:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Bryan Bedford (from left), FAA administrator, Sean Duffy, U.S. transportation secretary, Kevin O’Toole, chair of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), and Kathryn Garcia, executive director of PANYNJ, inaugurate a new radar at Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR). [Credit: Jack Daleo]

Key Takeaways:

U.S. transportation officials inaugurated a new surface movement radar at Newark Airport, marking ongoing air traffic control (ATC) modernization efforts, and requested an additional $10-20 billion for further upgrades, aiming for completion by 2028.
The comprehensive modernization includes replacing physical infrastructure across 50 states and developing "SMART," an AI-powered software designed to predict airspace conditions months in advance and enhance capacity.
Significant progress is noted across various upgrade categories, such as wiring and equipment installations, alongside the hiring of 4,000 new air traffic controllers to address staffing gaps and meet projected doubling of passenger demand.

See a mistake? Contact us.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford on Monday inaugurated a new surface movement radar (SMR) at Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR). But the officials are seeking at least $10 billion more for further air traffic control (ATC) upgrades.

Duffy has previously requested $19 billion in addition to the $12.5 billion allocated by Congress to the effort in 2025. In July, the Modern Skies Coalition, a group of aviation stakeholders led by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), called on Congress to allocate another $20 billion.