Something that needed to be addressed has been recognized resulting in an award for Raytheon Company of a seven-month, firm-fixed-price contract to study the NextGen Integrated Communications, Navigation and Surveillance architecture and determine the National Airspace System's needs for 2018 to 2025.

"The next generation of airspace management must support a broad array of capabilities — from classic aircraft with minimal automation to highly integrated, multi-sensor aircraft, including unmanned aerial systems," said Andy Zogg, Raytheon vice president for Command and Control Systems. "Our study will identify the alternative CNS architecture needed to meet growing capacity while providing the efficiencies necessary to ensure safe operations."

The study analyzes ICNS interfaces to operator flight planning systems, aircraft capabilities, avionics functions and Federal Aviation Administration automation systems.

The $2.3 million contract was awarded by the NextGen Institute, a venture between the National Center for Advanced Technologies and the FAA. The Joint Planning and Development Office will access the Institute to gain private sector expertise, tools and facilities for NextGen activities. The Raytheon-led team includes Rockwell Collins, ARINC, Aviation Management Associates and Thales.