# Air Control — Program Element 0604504N

**Program element:** 0604504N  
**Component:** U.S. Navy  
**Appropriation:** 1319 — RDT&E, Navy  
**Budget Activity:** 5 — System Development & Demonstration  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604504N

## Summary

U.S. Navy funding ramps 74% to a $41.6M request in FY2027, before stepping down 47% across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full. NAWCAD leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 60.5 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 23.9 |
| FY2027 | Request | 41.6 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 37.5 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 36.6 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 29.8 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 22.1 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 41.6 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 41.6 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 41.6 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 41.6 | +0.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (4)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0993 | Carrier ATC | 8.6 | 8.3 | 25.8 | +210% |
| 3372 | ATC Systems | 50.6 | 14.3 | 14.5 | +1% |
| 0718 | MATCALS | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | +3% |
| 1657 | ATC Improvement | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | −4% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project 0993 — Carrier ATC

Shipboard Air Traffic Control systems, interfacing with versions of the AN/TPX-42A(V) Direct Altitude and Identity Readout (DAIR), allow shipboard Air Traffic Controllers to identify, marshal, and direct aircraft within a 50 Nautical Mile (NM) radius of the ship. In recent years, the top 25 percent of the AN/SPN-43C frequency band has been reallocated to the Fixed Wireless Access Community prohibiting Air Traffic Control (ATC) Air Search Radar (ASR) operation within 50NM of the coast. Because the Navy requires an air traffic control surveillance radar, this project unit will include engineering efforts to identify requirements and develop the AN/SPN-50(V)1 as an AN/SPN-43C replacement system. In addition, bridging Engineering Change Proposals (ECP) will be required to sustain the AN/SPN-43C capability until the AN/SPN-50(V)1 is completely fielded. Finally, the AN/TPX-42A(V) DAIR continues to undergo several phased upgrades that have resulted in a number of field changes/technology refresh/insertion efforts. System improvements include replacing militarized front-end equipment in the track processor with open architecture Commercial Off the Shelf technology, converting the operational program software to more commonly used and flexible "C" language, providing the "hooks" for potential interface with Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe, and integrating a flat panel monitor into the controller workstation. The ATC System Shipboard, AN/SYY-1(V) interfaces to emerging sensors as well as those currently in service to improve reliability to the fleet. The embedded training capability of the AN/TPX-42A(V) will carry on to the AN/SYY-1(V). This effort includes addressing broadened CyberSecurity requirements to remain compliant with software CyberSecurity directives and Information Assurance mandates.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** SAAB (15.4, 60%), NAWCAD (7.9, 31%), OPTEVOR (1.3, 4.9%), DDG (0.9, 3.6%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AN/SPN-50 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 22.1 |
| AN/SPN-43C | 1.6 | 1.5 | 0.7 |
| AN/TPX-42 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.0 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

### Project 3372 — ATC Systems

The Navy's Precision Approach and Landing System Capability (PALC) and Landing System Upgrade Program (LSUP) are essential to retain the United States Navy's capability to perform safe and expeditious aircraft landings aboard CVN and LHA/D class vessels during adverse weather and night conditions. The Navy's PALC requirements, originally identified in the 2013 PALC Roadmap, necessitated Life Cycle Extension upgrades to all three legacy precision landing systems; AN/SPN-35, AN/SPN-41 and AN/SPN-46. The 2013 PALC Roadmap and subsequent LSUP block upgrades addressed obsolete technology developed and fielded over 30 years ago. In 2022, an updated PALC Roadmap was approved and planned to field system upgrades needed to provide PALC to both legacy aircraft and the Air Wing of the Future (AWOTF). These upgrades planned to modernize the AN/SPN-35 and AN/SPN-46 Radar Landing Systems (RLS), as well as insert common sub-systems that minimize future sustainment costs. These development efforts were planned to result in the fielding of a new system, AN/SPN-51, that would replace legacy systems; AN/SPN-35, AN/SPN-41, and AN/SPN-46. In Q1 FY 2025, the 2022 PALC Roadmap update and development efforts were rescinded, thus cancelling AN/SPN-51. Cancellation of the development program necessitates continued research and development of legacy system modifications to ensure sustainment consistent with the 2013 PALC Roadmap requirement. Without these efforts, the Navy estimates complete loss of Precision Approach Radar (PAR) and Automatic Carrier Landing System (ACLS) capabilities within 10 years. Successful development and fielding of all capabilities is essential to giving fleet users relevant equipment, compliant with Cyber Security directives and Information Assurance mandates, and authorized for fleet use.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** NAWCAD (14.0, 97%), DDG (0.5, 3.3%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radar Landing System (RLS) Mod Kit Development | 0.0 | 14.3 | 14.5 |
| AN/SPN-51 Brizo Landing System | 50.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

### Project 0718 — MATCALS

The Marine Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems (MATCALS) program provides for continued development, integration, and testing of hardware and software to meet requirements for all-weather operations and improved flight safety of Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Landing Systems at Marine Corps expeditionary airfields. An Acquisition Decision Memorandum from Jan 2005 approved the use of the U.S. Army AN/TPN-31 Air Traffic Navigation, Integration, and Coordination System (ATNAVICS) to fulfill the Air Surveillance and Precision Approach Radar and Control System (ASPARCS) requirement for Jul 2006. The ATNAVICS replaced the legacy ATC Precision Approach Radar (PAR), Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR), and Command and Control Subsystem with a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle based PAR, ASR and Command and Control Subsystem. The Marine Resource Oversight Committee Decision Memorandum 11-2005 of Dec 2004 outlines the evolutionary improvements required by Headquarters Marine Corps. This program works with the Marine ATC Working Group identifying the requirements to implement the preplanned program improvement (P3I) and evolutionary product improvements as required for Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar System (G/ATOR), ATNAVICS, Expeditionary Precision Approach Landing Capability (EPALC), Expeditionary ATC Towers, Common Aviation Command and Control Station (CAC2S), and Navigational Aids that support Marine Air Traffic Control Detachments.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** NAWCAD (0.7, 75%), NIWC (0.2, 25%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATCALS Improvements | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

### Project 1657 — ATC Improvement

This program provides for engineering development, integration, adaptation, and testing of new and/or modernized Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems, air navigational aids, landing systems, and ATC communication systems for Naval and Marine Corps Air Stations (NAS/MCAS), Fleet ATC Systems, and remote tower improvements. These systems are critical to Naval Aviation and provide for safe, efficient air operations. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is affecting major modernization of the National Airspace System (NAS). The Navy must maintain compatibility with FAA-developed ATC systems in order to ensure seamless interoperability within the NAS. NAS modernization initiatives in Project 1657 include the Visual Information Display System (VIDS) and follow-on Pre-Planned Product Improvements, with additional RDT&E efforts required for modified commercial-off-the-shelf ATC systems and equipment for modernization and recapitalization of these systems at our NAS, MCAS & Fleet Area Control & Surveillance Facilities (FACSFACs) worldwide.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NAS MOD VIDS | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Fleet ATC Systems | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 98% | 40.9 |
| Government labs & warfare centers | 1.7% | 0.7 |

**Top named industry performers:** NAWCAD ($22.6M, 54%), SAAB ($15.4M, 37%), DDG ($1.4M, 3.4%), OPTEVOR ($1.3M, 3.0%).

> R-3 exhibit contract funding, not USAspending obligations.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

Shipboard Air Traffic Control systems, interfacing with versions of the AN/TPX-42A(V) Direct Altitude and Identity Readout (DAIR), allow shipboard Air Traffic Controllers to identify, marshal, and direct aircraft within a 50 Nautical Mile (NM) radius of the ship. In recent years, the top 25 percent of the AN/SPN-43C frequency band has been reallocated to the Fixed Wireless Access Community prohibiting Air Traffic Control (ATC) Air Search Radar (ASR) operation within 50NM of the coast.

Landing System Upgrade Program consists of lifecycle extension upgrades to the AN/SPN-35C Precision Approach Radar, AN/SPN-41B Instrument Control Landing Systems and AN/SPN-46 Automatic Carrier Landing Systems, all of which support Air Traffic Control (ATC) operations on board CVN, LHA, and/or LHD-class ships. This effort includes numerous commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) component refresh updates which are urgently needed to sustain the operational viability of these Naval ATC systems supporting fleet air operations until at least 2040, until the next generation ATC system is fully implemented.

## Related program elements

- [0603860N — JNT Precision Approach & Ldg Sys](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603860N) (Navy)
- [1203873SF — Sensor Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1203873SF) (Space Force)
- [0607139A — Improved Turbine Engine Program](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0607139A) (Army)
- [0605217N — Common Avionics](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605217N) (Navy)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0604504N (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0604504N")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*