The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have announced that Peraton—”a next-generation technology and national security company”— will be the lead contractor tasked with overseeing the rollout of a brand-new air traffic control system.

The project calls for replacing core infrastructure, including telecommunications networks, radar, software and hardware to support modern air travel. It will receive $12.5 billion in government funding to do so. Despite that affordance, however, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said while it’s a good start “to finish the job—and deliver the safer, more efficient system travelers deserve—we’re going to need another $20 billion.”

As for Peraton (which is owned by Veritas Capital), the DOT and FAA said, “the company’s expertise with integrating complex tech platforms and successful collaboration with federal government agencies have positioned them well to execute on this ambitious timeline.”

The agencies, in the joint announcement, said the modernization will be completed in three years. Once finished, the system will reduce outages, improve efficiency, reinforce safety and support future growth of the national airspace.

To meet the ambitious goal of implementing a new system by the end of 2028, the DOT and FAA reportedly used an “innovative and first-of-its kind” federal procurement contract to expedite selecting an integrator. 

Following the announcement, Airlines for America (A4A) President and CEO Christopher T. Sununu, said he is grateful for the current administration “for taking a critical step forward in modernizing our nation’s air traffic control system by selecting Peraton to be the Prime Integrator to build the Brand New Air Traffic Control System.”